An Enerpac SyncHoist load hoisting and positioning system of a type previously proven on Australasian defence and infrastructure projects is now being used in a major US sports stadium project worth a projected $US1.4 billion (approx.$NZ1.942 billion).
The below-the-hook lifting solution for positioning of heavy loads in crane applications was deployed by Derr & Isbell Construction in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Atlanta Falcons American Football team is completing its new stadium project.
Set to complete in 2017, the 30-storey structure will contain roughly 20,000 tons of structural steel, a retractable roof and a 360-degree halo video board that will span five stories inside the Mercedes-Benz stadium.
Working with the roof’s structural steel is very difficult, and requires precise lifting to ensure accurate placement. Additionally, the steel is extremely heavy at approximately 385,000kg (850,000 pounds), requiring a lifting solution that will not only accurately lift the steel but also safely.
Project engineers Derr & Isbell Construction engineers turned to the Enerpac SyncHoist System, a unique below-the-hook lifting solution used internationally on precision projects including Brisbane’s Riverwalk infrastructure project and the building of the Royal Australian Navy’s 28,000-ton Helicopter Landing Deck vessels.
Using just one crane, the SyncHoist System allows operators to easily position loads while ensuring complete safety, speed and control.
To accurately lift and position the structural steel for the Mercedes-Benz stadium’s roof, the SyncHoist System employed two cylinders located between the hook and one of the two spreader beams, making the side load adjustable.
The other two cylinders were located between the other spreader beam and the load, which allowed that side of the lift to be adjustable as well. This design allowed operators to completely control the load throughout the entire lift.
“Positioning heavy and unbalanced loads, like the roof for the stadium, can be difficult and, at times, unsafe,” says project manager Dave Klaseus. “The SyncHoist System provides accurate positioning without the need for multiple cranes, significantly improving the overall safety and efficiency of the operation.”
The ability to adjust the load once it is connected to the crane saves operators a significant amount of time during the lifting process. Oftentimes, larger lifting applications require the load to be set down multiple times to ensure the lift is positioned accurately.
With the SyncHoist, operators can adjust the cylinders using pump-mounted manual valves. The pump also features load readings, which display the load at each SyncHoist cylinder.http://www.infrastructurenews.co.nz/wp-admin/edit.php
“If I pick up the load and it’s not exactly where it should be, I have to spend considerable time to set the load down, re-adjust and try again,” Klaseus says. “With the SyncHoist, I know the load will be exactly where I need it to be.”
The SyncHoist System has been in use for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium since November 2015.
