Sarens has completed the load test of a 1,189.6t lifting frame at ExxonMobil’s facility in Chonburi Province, Thailand.
This operation supports future phases of a major industrial development in the region, taking place under the THA-Chonburi-ExxonMobil BIH 786-262 VPE project at the Sattahip fabrication yard. Vatana Phaisal Engineering commissioned the work.
The load test focused on verifying the structural capacity of a custom-designed lifting accessory developed for the primary module of the project.
The lifting frame was assessed in compliance with OSHA 1926.251(a)(4). This standard requires custom lifting equipment to be tested at 125% of its maximum working load.
Sarens stated that this step was essential to confirm the technical integrity of the frame before it is used in full-scale operations.
The company’s engineering team undertook extensive preparations before conducting the test.
These preparations included evaluating ground bearing capacity, setting up crane pads, defining exclusion zones, managing site access, and coordinating team communications.
After reviewing conditions at the fabrication yard, Sarens selected the SCC8000A and CC6800 cranes for a tandem configuration to complete the main hoist.
Additional support was provided by an A600 crane, two STC600 units, and a GR300 crane for auxiliary tasks.
Key crane components were transported from Sarens’ Rayong yard to the Sattahip site using hydraulic trailers.
Deliveries of further equipment, counterweights, and rigging gear were timed according to site logistics and assembly requirements.
The load test itself was conducted in controlled phases with agreed hold points. This approach allowed engineers to monitor the structural behaviour of the frame at each load level, ensuring that performance met the required criteria.
Sarens Thailand project manager Ukrit Phorjai said: “Executing a 1.189,6t load test under OSHA standards in an active industrial environment demands a highly qualified team.
“We are really proud of the work we have carried out on the yard, ensuring future safe operations in this type of facility.”
Sarens, with more than 70 years of experience in heavy lifting and engineered transport, indicated that validation of the lifting frame contributes to the safety and continuity of future lifting operations at the Chonburi site.
In August 2026, Sarens replaced the 140-year-old Ponte al Pino bridge in Florence in work aimed at improving safety for rail and road users.
