Allelys, THLG member for the UK, have successfully completed the transport and crane lift operation for the installation of a 146te Yankee drying cylinder at Shotton Mill in Flintshire.
The project, which was fully engineered and project managed by Allelys, required a solution to be designed to receive the cargo at Ellesmere Port, transport it to Shotton Mill and install it on site – a solution which required a range of equipment to be utilised from within the extensive Allelys fleet.
The Yankee dryer, which measured 8.9m (l) x 4.62m (w) x 5.72m (h), was lifted from the vessel at Ellesmere port using Allelys’ LG1550 crane and loaded onto a 12 axle flat top trailer. Once transported across the port, the team used a 450te capacity hydraulic gantry system to tranship the Yankee dryer from the flat top trailer into a 16 axle girder frame trailer.
“Due to the size of the load, a motorway closure was required on the M56 to allow the transport configuration to travel contraflow, therefore the journey was split into two legs with a holding location during the transport operation.” commented Matthew Rushton, Head of Project Delivery at Allelys. “We also co-ordinated the removal of street furniture, extensive tree trimming and the lifting of telecom lines and overhead power lines to allow the trailer to safely travel through.”
Once at site, the same hydraulic gantry system was utilised to tranship the cargo out of the girder frame onto mats and stools for temporary storage.
“The Yankee dryer was required to be lifted through the roof of an existing building, and with minimal clearance around the opening, expert precision would be pivotal.” explained Mitchell Smith, Commercial Engineer at Allelys. “The height of the building, combined with the reach and radius required, meant that our AK912 mobile crane was the only crane within the fleet that could make the lift possible.”
Configured with a boom length of 83m and a radius of 46m, the AK912 crane lifted the Yankee dryer through the opening in the roof and lowered it into its final position.
“Witnessing the 146te Yankee dryer cylinder being lifted into place with such precision was truly breathtaking,” said Omer Baykir, Tissue Plant and Investment Manager at Shotton Mill. “This operation was a testament to the incredible engineering expertise and collaborative effort that went into making it happen.We extend our sincere gratitude to Allelys and Valmet AB for their exceptional expertise and precision in executing this operation.”
