Transi-Lift in action

We report in News this month about an accident involving Hyundai's Lampson Transi-Lift machine in Korea. This is not the first time one of these machines has fallen, and, to be realistic, may not be the last. But the facts remain that, when used correctly, the Transi-Lifts have proved themselves useful heavy lifting machines. Most of the units that have been made are in Lampson's own fleet of equipment. But such major international engineering contractors as Brown & Root, McDermott and Aker also own one or more.
Lampson has built its own cranes for years, finding it more cost effective. Since an LTL-1500 toppled over at the Miller Park project in Milwaukee four years ago, killing three men and injuring five others, there is a perception in the market that Transi-Lift machines have been less active, but in fact, as the photos on these pages show, there is still good work out there for them. Last year Lampson built its third LTL-2600. This is the biggest crane in Lampson's fleet and is rated at 2,600 US ton (2,360t) capacity. It can carry more than 122m of boom and 61m of jib. The first two 2600s were built in 1995 at the company's main facility in Washington, in Northwest USA, sent to Australia and have been there ever since.
The new one was built specifically for a clean-up project at the Bayway Refinery in Linden, New Jersey. Working for Nooter Construction, the new LTL-2600 lifted a 639t (704 US ton) load, comprising head and cyclones, at a radius of 87m (pictured above). The refinery turnaround was completed in just 35 days, allowing the cat cracker to start production in half the normal required turnaround time.
The second job for the new rig was on 4 May this year, working for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (shown left). It took little more than two hours to complete, but far, far longer to prepare. The job was lifting in a new steel truss bridge over the main railway line between Boston and New York. To avoid disrupting rail traffic, a window of just two hours 20 minutes was allocated, starting at 01:30. The bridge weighed 943t and was 98m long, 24m wide and 18m high. The structure was lifted at a radius of 56m, and to a height of more than 20m at one point to clear bridge power cables.
The crane was set up with 104m of boom, 30m of jib and 2,948t (3,250 US ton) of counterweight. It did not need that much counterweight but the railway authorities specify that cranes must be rated at 150% of the loads they are to lift. The load was lifted using three spreader beams ­ one that was 24.3m supporting a pair below that were each 48m long. From each of the two lower spreaders were attached two lifting points, 46m apart, for a true vertical lift.
Mission accomplished, that LTL-2600 is now leaving the USA as well, but it is not going quite as far as its sister machines. It is going to Newfoundland in Canada to work on an FPSO vessel.
As well as the three LTL-2600s, Lampson's fleet of Transi-Lifts includes: a 1500, two 1200s, four 1100s, four 1000s, an 850 and two 600s. (The Miller Park 1500 was scrapped.) In addition to its custom equipment, Lampson owns an array of cranes, mainly Manitowocs. As reported in Fleet File last month, Lampson has 258 crawler cranes in its rental fleet and 65 wheeled mobiles. The latest addition is a Manitowoc 18000 for work in Australia.