SC&RA Rigging Job, $150,000-$750,000: Barnhart

28 April 2008

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Barnhart was chosen to erect an overhead crane in a midwest USA nuclear facility.

The crane was 104ft long, and installed 49ft high. The company was given a space 22ft x 80ft to work in, bounded by shield walls: according to one employee, it was like 'working in a prison cell'. Barnhart worked with the overhead crane manufacturer to design a solution that would allow for the crane girder to be cut in two, lifted into place, and then bolted back together (with 308 hand-torqued bolts). Barnhart built four Modular Lift Tower (MLT) structures in a horizontal configuration and placed two sets of four-leg gantries with header beams on top to receive the two loads, the 25 US ton crane half, and the 40 US ton crane half with attached trolley. A custom-made hoist hung from the existing overhead crane hook lifted each half the crane bridge, turned it 90 degrees, and then moved it into position.


The completed overhead crane bridge The completed overhead crane bridge
Barnhart gantries hold overlapping sections of the bridge Barnhart gantries hold overlapping sections of the bridge