Employing a 1000 ton crane for GE equipment installation

Following transport orders for several power generation equipment to a paper mill located inland Portugal, including a 90 ton generator, L.Branco was invited by GE to present proposals for the placing of main items on foundation. Several options were thoroughly studied, from placing of cranes inside generator hall to jacking and skidding. After different studies on site and calculations, these options had to be put aside in view of the lack of space / height and several constraints due to the civil construction works on and around the machine hall. L.Branco then proposed installing the equipment through the roof by means of a large crane. Back to the drawing-board, after calculating the height and radius required, the sole solution was to employ a crane of 1000 tons capacity. There was no such crane available in Portugal for the estimated date for the operation (postponed several times due to delays of the civil construction works). When, finally, operation date was agreed, L.Branco managed to hire an AC-1000 Demag in Spain. Still before the operation, new calculations had to be done since we were confronted with scaffoldings and a tower crane near our operation area, installation that had not been previously informed to our client / ourselves. On the required date everything was in place and operation was performed smoothly and with extreme accuracy. Great job! was the comment of site manager once operation was completed; a perfect ending for many weeks of studies and preparation. L.Branco: – your reliable, professional partner for projects in Portugal!