In proving the company’s ability to operate internationally JB Rawcliffe & Sons Ltd have successfully completed a joint venture heavy lift project in Kenya, Africa with Coast Hauliers Ltd of Mombasa.
The project was 12 months in the planning in which a detailed method with associated storyboard had to be produced to prove the solution for the lifting of the generators 10m from ground level, travel of 11m over the plinth and then lowering of 1m to sole plates.
On being awarded the project JB Rawcliffe & Sons Ltd began with the design, calculations and manufacturing drawings of the required 9m high supports that would allow the lift system to travel off the edge of the plinth. One set of support steelwork was designed to allow the steelwork to be used for the four separate generator plinths. The approach was taken to design the support steelwork in modular form from steel sections allowing the support steelwork to be fabricated locally to site, allow the parts of the support to be transported economically and allow the support steelwork to be assembled in the least number of lifts.
JB Rawcliffe & Sons Ltd 500Ton capacity lift system comprising of 18m of runway track, 10m header beams, power packs, and all required lifting equipment was packed into three conventional shipping containers which allowed for the easy shipping of the system to Kenya.
On arrival in Mombasa, the equipment was unpacked from the containers and delivered to site. JB Rawcliffe & Sons Ltd supplied operators to supervise and assist with the build of the support steelwork ensuring its integrity and level due to poor ground makeup. With assistance from local labour the lift system was assembled on the plinth and Cost Hauliers Ltd transported the 141,000kg generators from Mombasa Port to site.
Due to the location of the plinths within the power station building and limited room on site Coast Hauliers Ltd jacked the generators from the delivery trailer, rotated them 90degrees and skidded them beneath the lift system.
The joint venture heavy lift project with Coast Hauliers Ltd was a complete success with all four generators lifted and positioned on their sole plates without incident and within client’s schedule.