Machinery Rigging and Moving

1. Critical Picks

Dairy Machinery Rigging and Moving

When a Northern California dairy producer came to SilMan with two equipment decommission and removal projects, our Millwright team rose to the moment.  In each case, the equipment being moved was fully in its productive life, so the equipment needed a gentle touch in order to guarantee continued fruitful use.

One of the projects involved our client’s purchase of equipment from another dairy. The scope of work for this project was massive, including the decommissioning of dozens of machines and hundreds of spare parts.

The SilMan Millwrights, supported by our in-house Electrical team, managed the entire removal: from decommission, rigging, removal, to final load and tie-down on ground transport.

Additional details include the creation of an inventory system, labeling, photolog, and match marks components for re-assembly.

What is a Critical Pick?

A critical pick is a lift that involves two different lifting sources, such as a crane and a hoist, or a load that exceeds 75% of the rated capacity of the crane.

In this case, the silos, reaching up to 40’, are especially challenging due to their size and peculiarly lightweight. In addition to a crane, hoists were used to level these towering cylinders. Spreader beams were also employed to load onto flatbeds. These are the rigger’s primary tools for such pieces.

38 pieces of equipment were removed and rigged for ground transportation. In addition, dozens of fabricated boxes and loaded pallets were prepared to accommodate related equipment and components.

The project required four weeks to complete and 40 trucks to transport the equipment to their new home.

2. Pipe Mill Demolition and Relocation

Machinery Demolition and Rigging for Factory Shutdown

This project required the decommissioning and removal of an entire pipe mill operation.

The scope of work covered material, equipment, and site services for the dismantling, removal, packaging, preparation, and loading of all mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, nominated overhead cranes, and spare equipment.  SilMan also managed ground transportation to a lay-down site provided by the customer.

The sheer volume of pieces, including mechanical and electrical components, required highly detailed planning for movement and staging to keep the area productive and safe.

In particular, low overhead clearance and narrow traffic areas were specific challenges for the SilMan riggers.

SilMan’s Safety Team provided a JHA prior to the team arriving on site. Nonetheless, a safety manager was present daily to assist site leadership in the implementation of a Safe-Lift Plan for each piece and to participate in team coordination meetings.

The project took four months to complete.

Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste

In addition to the mechanical and electrical tasks, SilMan was also responsible to drain and dispose of all industrial substances from the site.

And if you know anything about California, you know something about the scale and detail of this undertaking.

Non-hazardous waste can be recycled, but hazardous waste must be removed and disposed of according to the regulation for each substance.

The waste management scope of activity included facilitating and compiling test results and reporting to EPA.

3. Crossover, Platform and Stairway Installation

Rig and Installation Rooftop Safety Equipment

This rigging and installation project required the gentle placement of large, awkwardly shaped steel structures onto the rooftop of a commercial building.

Prior to installation, all stairways and platforms were pre-assembled, rigged for transport, and deposited at the client’s facility.

Challenge: As can be seen in the photos below, the pre-fabricated pieces handled during this project required special care in order to maintain the integrity of the structures during the lift. Selecting proper pick points were a crucial aspect to the team’s success.

The type of structures and sizes included platforms, stairs, and landings ranging from 7’ to 38’ in length, 6’ in height, with an approximate width of 36”.

20+ total pieces were lifted and installed during two consecutive Saturday/Sunday shifts.

The crane operator had zero visibility to the landing location.  The Lift Supervisor worked closely by radio with the Crane Operator and Crane Signaler to place the safety equipment on the roof, aided by the rigging team using tag lines to make minuscule adjustments, directing the piece to its final location.

Once correctly positioned, the platforms were bolted to existing rooftop anchors.

4. Stack Repair at Manufacturing Facility

Equipment Rigging at the Center of Custom Fabrication Project

In this unusual project, the SilMan Millwright team demonstrates the nimbleness and value that their multi-skill training can provide: rigging and installation of large equipment from a single team in one day.

The rigging team made two trips to the client’s location. First to remove one of two slide gates which were used as a template to engineer and fabricate a replacement.

Working with their electrical counterparts, a short-term replacement was fabricated in the field to keep the plant operational.

When the newly minted replacements were completed, the team returned to install and commission the two new units.

As an interesting twist to this situation, the crane operator had no visibility into the landing area on the opposite side of the building. The crane team positioned the units with microscopic precision by radio communication with the rigging team at the installation location.

Each slide gate weighs in excess of 4,000 pounds.

You may review a video and case study for this reverse-engineering and fabrication project on our portfolio page.