Feedwater Heaters and Rotor Replacement

Market: Nuclear

Location: South Carolina

Problem

Extremely tight quarters and equipment limitations slowed down the project.

Solution

Quick thinking and new basketing devices helped complete the job.

Description

Barnhart was contracted to remove and replace rotors and feedwater heaters. The rotor was railed to site, offloaded with the 44A system, and transported easily to the crane bay.

However, when the old rotor was loaded to a nine-line trailer for transporting to storage, the crane failed at a height of nine feet off of the ground. With engineering approval, we were able to load crane mats (five high) on the trailer and safely rescue the rotor from the inoperable crane.



After that, we quickly finished the remainder of the job.

Moving the feedwater heater challenged us as well. The 4B sat under a floor and we slid it out using a light slide. Furthermore, we inverted both the 4A and 4B to clear surrounding obstructions.

We used the new basketing devices on their maiden voyage and found that they were easy to use, and that they served their purpose well.

Next, we directed them through the legs of the gantry crane, between the MSR's, down a low risk path on the Turbine Deck, and finally to the crane bay.

With the successful nuclear project, four employees gained their "nuclear" badges, making them invaluable help for future nuclear jobs. They will be particularly helpful to speed up our work in case we need faster reaction time.

Major Equipment Used

• 9 Line PST Goldhofer
• Specialized Rigging

Backhoe loader introduction

Backhoe Loaders Buyer's Guide

The backhoe loader is one of the most common pieces of heavy equipment on any size job site. The fact that it features two useful tools in one machine makes the backhoe loader a must-have for all kinds of construction and repair projects.

The standard backhoe consists of a diesel-powered, four-wheeled vehicle with the operator's cab in the middle and a tool on each end. On the front, it has a loader: a wide bucket on dual arms that is used to either pick up loose piles of material or to push dirt back into a hole when a job is finished. The rear end has a backhoe — a hydraulic-powered digging scoop on a three-jointed arm, designed to dig through hard earth. The operator needs only to turn around in his seat to switch from digging a hole to filling it back up.

Digging and refilling holes and trenches is commonly required for all kinds of construction, utility work, and landscaping. The ability to exchange the backhoe or loader bucket for a different attachment gives you even more flexibility: crushers, retractable-bottom buckets, grinders, and other tools can handle a variety of other tasks. The combination of power, relatively small size, two common tools, and flexibility makes backhoe loaders extremely useful for contractors and construction firms of many types.

backhoe loader

backhoe loader

backhoe loader

bachoe loader

Buying heavy equipment

When buying heavy equipment – excavators, backhoe loaders, motor graders, and even compact equipment like skid steer loaders or mini excavators– it's easy to get buried in an avalanche of specs. Engine HP, hydraulic HP, dump heights, ground clearance, dig or dump depths – they can get to be overwhelming. It's important to keep in mind that the performance of your heavy equipment depends quite a bit on the operator.

Heavy equipment controls and ergonomics
One of the most important considerations when buying heavy equipment is visibility. It's a safety concern, as well as important to efficient operation: the operator can't avoid what he can't see. During your test drive, pay attention to any areas of low visibility – particularly when using scoops or digging arms.

The control system is another central point to evaluate. Most new heavy equipment uses twin joystick controls, one that controls the overall movement of the vehicle and one that operates the hydraulics for the arm, scoop, or blade. These electronic or electrohydraulic controls require much less force to operate than mechanical controls of old – but if they're too sensitive, smooth operation can be a real challenge.

That's why heavy equipment manufacturers have introduced adjustable controls. These allow each operator to adjust the sensitivity and control pattern to match their own preferences. As part of the test drive, try different settings to gauge how effective the adjustments are.

Visibility and controls are two components of the overall ergonomics of the operator cab. Ergonomics refers to everything that goes into ease of operation and comfort for the operator. Even small extras like adjustable seats and good lumbar support can make your operators more efficient in the long run. 

Operator comfort is also greatly increased with enclosed cabs. Standard on some vehicles and an option on others, enclosed cabs let your operators concentrate on getting the job done – not the weather. For working in the chilly Northeastern winter or the sweltering Southern summer, an enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning is a huge boost to efficiency and operator efficiency.

One last tip on judging these operator-focused features: make sure you have an operator on hand to do the evaluation! While the CFO or equipment manager makes the purchasing decision, they're not the ones who'll actually be in the machine. Have one of your equipment operators come along to do the test drive – and get the real feedback from them afterwards.

Specs do count
Lastly, don't think for a minute that those performance specs are completely irrelevant. If the excavator doesn't dig deep enough, or if the wheel loader doesn't reach high enough to fill your dump trucks, they're simply not going to get the job done. Making sure the vehicle meets the basics specs required to handle your applications is always part of the heavy equipment buying process.

Chances are, you already know the importance of putting together a list of performance requirements before you purchase construction equipment. Don't forget the external dimensions, too. If your equipment needs to fit on a trailer or in a garage, the overall width and height are important considerations. Gross weight of heavy equipment can also be a concern on trailers or small bridges.

Four Types of Equipment, Seven Bridges, and Forty Miles Add up to Another Barnhart Transport Success

TEXAS - In August 2010, a customer hired Barnhart Crane & Rigging to transport a demethanizer and absorber from Houston to Sanderson. As they finished an almost identical job a year earlier, the crew not only had all the right equipment for the job but also the best experience to ensure yet another Barnhart success.



"We did this same project a year earlier," project manager James Weston said. "And even though the pieces were heavier, the method was still the same."

The team began at a Houston shop, where they used pull-up gantries to load the pieces on to 26-lines of Goldhofer PSTe. The platform trailers relocated the pieces to the nearest rail spur. From there, rail carts moved the pieces to Sanderson, and Barnhart used pull-up gantries and the slide system to place the pieces on the trailers.

The absorber, however, was much heavier than the demethanizer, which caused Weston and his team to configure a new trailer system: 30-lines THP dollies with a 16-dolly hybrid system. After the configuration was approved, the design eased the absorber's transport over a 40-mile haul, including seven bridges.

Weston noted the weight difference as the only hiccup in the move.

"Weight changes made this project different than its twin project done a year prior," Weston said. "So all the knowledge we thought we had going into the project was short lived with the increase of the piece weight. However, we made the necessary adjustments and were able to have the piece on the road within a week of learning of the new weights."



The weight change hardly set the crew back, as they compensated for the slow-down by promptly communicating with their vendors and pre-staging the equipment.

"We notified all the vendors of the pieces' arrival and coordinated the rail siding prior to vessel departure in Houston," Weston said. "Upon arrival, we were able to pre-stage equipment to ensure a timely off load of rail and transport to the job site."

The demethanizer, on the other hand, was slightly lighter, and the team returned to the railroad to place it on the original 26-lines trailer and 14-dolly hybrid system design.

But what made this project so special? Weston believes that Barnhart has a distinct advantage over its local competitors.

"With the knowledge of the bridges from the last job done a year prior, Barnhart had a leg up on the competition by already knowing the best methods to employ and already knowing what equipment would be necessary to achieve a successful project," Weston said. "And in the Houston Market, we do have some stiff competition with the heavy haulers and heavy lift companies. However Barnhart prides itself with having the necessary equipment, personnel, and expertise to ensure a project runs as planned."

Past experience, specialized personnel, and custom equipment all helped make this a special job, but Weston saw the relationships Barnhart made with the community as the most impressive aspects of this project.



"There are many projects where we are transporting a long distance and then there are times we are stationary in one location for an extended period of time," Weston said. "By being stationary you are able to meet and build relationships with the town's people and become a part of the community."

The small town of Sanderson provided the perfect Petri dish for comradery.

"Sanderson is a small town with about 500 residents," Weston said. "At no time did we go a day without someone asking us about the progress of the job or really being involved in the job itself. The local sheriff's office, the volunteer fire department, and some local businesses supported us in whatever we needed. It is nice to know that we have left a lasting impression in the community and that a lot of friendships have come from that."

James Weston is a project manager at Barnhart’s branch located in Houston, Texas. For contact information, please click here.

Or take a look at some other fantastic services that Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company Provide:

• Crane Service


• Heavy Rigging


• Heavy Cargo Logistics


• Heavy Lift Cranes


• Machinery Moving


• Modular Lift Tower


• Transportation Solutions

heavy equipment operation school

A heavy equipment operation school is an institution which creates employment opportunities for potential job-seekers by training them with the basic knowledge and skills required to work as a construction operator or heavy equipment operators. According to U.S Department of Labor, at present there are over 100,000 jobs in heavy equipment operation and related fields and the demand will grow rapidly by 2018.

In the specially designed courses which these operation schools offer, candidates are taken through an apprenticeship program where they are taught how to handle light machines, and then eventually they are made to work on heavy machines like wheel loaders, cranes, excavators, bull-dozers, and front-end loaders. The apprenticeship program helps the candidates learn certain dos and don’ts which simple knowledge-based materialistic education cannot impart.

In a heavy equipment operation school, the training module is divided into a basic introductory level and a couple of advanced levels. In the introductory level the candidates are made familiar with safety measures to be maintained at construction sites, together with introductions to mathematical procedures used in operation of heavy equipments, and blueprints. The other levels involve training in operation and maintenance of light and heavy equipments.

After the completion of training from a school the candidates are awarded a technical degree or a certificate, together with a driver’s license which would be required by any aspiring operator for working with heavy machineries in mines or oil rigs.

The number of heavy equipment training schools and related institutes has grown immensely during the last few years. This automatically shows that the demand for construction workers and heavy machinery operators are growing fast. Since, most of the big construction firms are going global in their undertakings, the requirement for trained operators and handlers have started to go up. The training schools enable candidates in gaining advanced knowledge and experience in operating various light and heavy machines. They are also trained to operate these equipments at various places such as construction sites, mines, clearing grounds for construction of bridges, land-filling sites and sometimes on oil rigs located in the midst of oceans and seas. Such job oriented training gives them practical knowledge and helps them to get a job of high remuneration and good prospects.

The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS) has been in the business of training and placing candidates on a nation wide basis. They have member schools in almost all states of the US.

Heavy Industry Reports, Barnhart Ranks in Top 10 North American Companies and Top 25 Internationally

In June 2010, American Cranes and Transport (ACT) published their annual top 100 Crane and Transport companies for the year. The criteria for this list include the number of company employees and branches, scope of operation, number of mobile and crawler cranes, and a company's largest crane and its capacity.

Although the list intends to survey the heavy industry as a whole, the rankings do provide some idea of the big players in the crane and transport markets. Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company maintained a top 10 position even after the rough economic downturn known as 2009. The 2010 top 10 included the same companies as 2009.

Another crane publication, International Cranes and Specialized Transport (IC), also conducted its own survey over the international market. Although their criteria are similar, they place a heavier emphasis on crane capacity in ranking the top 50 international companies. The IC ranks companies according to an index calculated as the total maximum load moment rating, in "tonne-metres," of all cranes in a companies' fleet.

In the IC report published in August 2010, Barnhart stood impressively at the 24-spot. Other than Barnhart, only seven other U.S. companies made the top 25.

The IC also named the top 12 companies with the largest single cranes, and Barnhart's Demag CC 4000 RL ranked seventh with a capacity of 1,800 tons. The next IC rankings will debut during this quarter of 2011.

The ACT and IC reports are only available through purchase at the KHL website.

For more about Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company, please visit its official website. You may also want to check out Barnhart's available equipment:

• Heavy Lift Cranes


• Modular Lift Tower


• Operated Cranes


• Rigging Systems


• Transportation Systems

Or you may want to check out Barnhart's available services:

• Crane Service


• Heavy Rigging


• Heavy Cargo Logistics


• Heavy Lift Cranes


• Machinery Moving


• Modular Lift Tower


• Transportation Solutions

Building Casks

Market: Power

Location: Washington

Problem

Special canister required for waste removal project was difficult to maneuver into place.

Solution

The added length of the tipstick hanging from the overhead crane allowed the waste container to be placed in the shipping container.

Description

A nuclear research facility is in the process of demolition and deactivation of buildings. The building was used as a spent-fuel metallurgical test facility. Some of the waste from that process were to be removed from the building to allow demolition and deactivation activities to continue. The high-level waste dose rates and concentrations required removal from the building in a special shipping canister. The truck that hauled this canister could not back into the building far enough for the overhead crane to reach the canister. Barnhart solved the problem by hanging the tipstick from the overhead crane. The added length of the tipstick provided enough distance to allow the waste container to be placed inside the shipping canister. The process involved disassembling the canister, installing the inner waste container, and reassembling the shipping canister. Two canisters were loaded. The waste was then shipped out to the repository onsite for long-term storage.

Major Equipment Used

Tipstick

Soil Stabilization using a Spider Excavator

The Spider excavator is a unique multi-tasking piece of equipment.

• The Spider excavator can work on very steep slopes,
• Can be taken apart for heli-transport to remote locations,
• Uses biodegradable oil for both the hydraulic and mechanical operations for work in environmentally sensitive areas,
• Is equipped with a winch for near vertical slope work,
• Capable of drilling with a down the hole hammer drill for rock bolting and soil nailing.

Blow Down Drum Roll, Please…

TEXAS – Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company completed yet another heavy machinery relocation in March, 2010. A customer tasked Barnhart and its crews to transport a massive Blow Down Drum measuring a grand 62’6” in length, 23’2” in width, and 22’9” in height.

From Houston, the crew needed to move the drum to a Texas dock, from which the barge would meet another Barnhart team in Detroit. And like most Barnhart projects, time was of the essence for the team.

“The piece was due to meet a barge that was coming in from Mexico that had pieces already on it and all items were then headed to Detroit, Mich.,” said project manager James Weston. “Any delay in shipment could be very costly with the barge and tug waiting.”

To speed up project completion, Barnhart devoted special care to route planning and ensured the quickest possible route between transport sites. The due diligence in route planning reduced the mileage in addition to cutting costs in half. In fact, the route the crew used had never been utilized before, and the customer was surprised and impressed that the load quickly cleared all sharp turns, underpasses, railroads, and bridges.

On top of the time constraints, the customer awarded the project to Barnhart at the last minute. Weston and his team quickly made all the necessary arrangements with vendors to expedite the transport.

“We contacted our vendors in a timely manner,” Weston said. “And with the help of the utility companies and other outside agencies, we were able to mitigate obstacles prior to beginning the haul. That left us only having to deal with a minimum set of obstacles.”

Because of Barnhart’s longtime presence in Texas, they have developed strong relationships with the Department of Transportation and other partner companies. For moving the massive drum, those relationships came in rather handy.

“The majority of those companies take the time to meet with us, run the routes, and often suggest better ways to achieve the ultimate goal,” Weston said. “Having a team mentality betters the overall outcome of a project.”

The relationship with the DOT, in particular, allowed Barnhart to quickly obtain the necessary permit for transport, set up all vendor contracts, and meet the barge on time.

Weston likewise noted that having these strong local relationships really gives the customer great confidence in Barnhart’s work.

“It benefits the customer over time by knowing they have companies that work well together as a team and by understanding everyone is there to achieve the same goal,” Weston said.

Barnhart’s industrious planning, its prompt arrangements, and its commercial partnerships weren’t the only impressive aspects of the project, according to Weston. The project illustrated the efficiency and teamwork that Barnhart’s nationwide company has to offer.

“Barnhart has 23 branches across the county,” Weston said. “And every day we work together to ensure that we are doing what we can to help our brethren branches. This job speaks highly to that. Expediting this shipment enabled our Chicago branch to have a successful kick off to their project at Marathon in Detroit.”

James Weston is a project manager at Barnhart’s branch located in Houston, Texas. For contact information, please click here.

Or take a look at all the fantastic services Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company provide:

· Crane Service

· Heavy Rigging

· Heavy Cargo Logistics

· Heavy Lift Cranes

· Machinery Moving

· Modular Lift Tower

· Transportation Solutions

No Short Circuits for Barnhart in Transformer Replacement at Kansas Power Plant

Miserable weather and poor conditions did not thwart Barnhart Crane and Rigging's success when installing a massive 500-ton transformer at a Midwest power plant. Although taking the old transformer out posed no problems, installing the new transformer proved to be quite a challenge.



Fortunately for the power plant and customer, Barnhart loves to take on challenging jobs. Project Manager Bob Possel later explained why this project was so exceptional.

"We typically don't change out 500-ton transformers," Possel said. "I would say the typical transformers that we handle on average are approximately 200 tons."

To unload the Transformer from the Schnabel railroad car, Barnhart employed four 300-ton jacks, pull-up gantries, and a slide system. The staff slid the transformer to a ten line double-wide hydraulic platform trailer. At the request of the owner, the crew staged the component on slide beams so the transformer could be partially dressed out prior to the outage.

During the outage time was saved. A second Barnhart crew mobilized to site to slide the transformer across the road during the night for staging. However, the crew ran into a significant hurdle that tested the team.



"The new transformer was significantly heavier than the old one causing ground bearing issues," Possel said.

To overcome this issue, the team strategically placed additional matting to resolve the problem. Timbers, along with an extra truckload of steel crane mats, provided the timely solution.

Barnhart ultimately completed the project safety and in a reasonable amount of time, all to the satisfaction of the customer.

"The customer was pleased with our services," Possel said. "[He] wants us to replace a similar transformer at another plant."


For more information, please visit the official Barnhart Crane and Rigging website. Or you may be interested in their Crane Service, Machinery Moving, or Heavy Rigging pages.