Cool-headed planning leads to success for refrigeration machinery moving project
Machinery moving teams from Hird have carried our a series of lifts using a mobile crane and a pick and carry crane to install equipment in a factory operated by one of the UK’s largest chilled fish producer.
The project, to lift and install three different types of equipment, was carried out for Seward Refrigeration, which was working for the owner of the factory in Lincolnshire.
Multiple lifting capabilities
Hird Director Jason Timmins, who acted as Appointed Person for the lifts, said: “The project demonstrated the wide variety of capabilities Hird has to plan and execute lifts using a wide range of lifting equipment and techniques.
“We worked hand-in-glove with colleagues at Seward Refrigeration and factory personnel to make sure all lift components were completed smoothly and safely.”
Hird’s machinery moving division used its Grove GMK4100L mobile crane, which has a maximum safe working load (SWL) of 100t, to lift a 5t condenser unit into position next to the factory building.
The condenser unit, which was 5m long, 2m high and 2m wide, was lifted with the aid of a 2.5m spreader beam, a two-leg chain sling and four web slings, with a maximum crane boom length of 32m and maximum radius of 25m.
Pick and carry crane
In a second element of the project, Hird used one of its Valla V110R pick and carry cranes, which has a safe working load (SWL) of 11t, to offload a compressor from transport and take it to a factory entrance.
While the compressor, which was 3m long, 1.6m high, 2.2m high and weighed 5.2t, was being lifted from the transporter, the pick and carry crane’s front stabiliser was deployed to optimise its lifting capability.
The crane was used to take the compressor to a factory entrance where it was lowered, again with the front stabiliser deployed. The load was then moved into the building and positioned using machine skates and jacks, aided by a tirfor winch.
Lifting in sequence
Finally, the Hird machinery moving team used the Valla V110R battery electric-powered mini crane to unload two surge vessels and two steel frames, on which the vessels were to be placed.
The steel frames each weighed 2t and were 4.5m long, 2t high and 2t wide. The surge vessels weighed 4.1t and were 3m long, 2m high, and 2m wide.
The machinery moving team used the pick and carry crane to transport the steel frames and surge vessels in sequence to the factory entrance, where they were taken inside on machine skates, pulled by a tirfor winch.
Two A-frame gantries, each with a SLW of 3t, providing a combined SWL of 6t, were used to lift the surge vessels.
Small carbon footprint
The steel frames could then be pulled into position under the surge vessels using a tirfor winch, and the vessels were then lowered into position and bolted into place by a Seward engineer.
Jason Timmins said: “All lifting equipment was optimal for the job at hand. For example, the battery electric Valla pick and carry crane was near silent and created no emissions, so completed the lifts with in a small carbon footprint.
“The mini crane operator also used a wireless remote-control unit for the lift and transport functions, so could be positioned in the best locations to manage the process safely.”
Find out more
Got a machinery lifting and moving project you need help with? Talk to the Hird team today. We support machine moving projects across the UK.
Email: [email protected]. Telephone: 01482 227333.