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MultiMAX trailer from Faymonville performs in South Africa

South Africa’s machine moving and rigging company Lovemore Bros., headquartered in Durban, has recently used the MultiMAX 2+6 axle stepdeck trailer to move a 49 tons steel construction for an industry project. The load had a length of 21 m and a width of 4.5 m. The MultiMAX trailer by Faymonville has a loading platform that can extend from closed 15,000 mm up to a maximum of 32,500 mm. Its 2-axle bogie in front is hydraulically connected to the gooseneck ensuring ideal load distribution. The pendle-axles with their total stroke of 600 mm and a maximum steering angle of up to 60° allow for smooth and safe handling even under difficult road and terrain conditions.

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Goldhofer wins global market leader accolade

For the third time in a row, the Memmingen-based heavy haulage and oversized cargo transportation vehicles manufacturer, Goldhofer AG receives the “Global Market Leader Champion 2020” award granted by the experts from the University of St. Gallen and the Academy of German Global Market Leaders. The company which is present with its products on all six continents generated net sales worth over 213 million euros in the 2017/18 financial year with exports accounting for 83 percent of the total. Founded in 1705, Goldhofer is one of the oldest German companies in the Global Market Leader Index and is wholly owned by the Memmingen-based Alois Goldhofer Foundation.

“We are absolutely delighted with this distinction, especially as it reflects the worldwide customer satisfaction deriving from the know-how, experience and above all enthusiastic commitment of our employees. That is the key to market leadership. My thanks and those of my colleagues go to all Goldhofer employees around the world,” says Lothar Holder, CEO at Goldhofer AG.

Lothar Holder, CEO at Goldhofer AG.
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LASO Transportes choses Goldhofer

Portuguese special transport company LASO Transportes SA has relied on Goldhofer’s THP/SL heavy-duty modules to complete the transport of a 70m long and nearly 300 t heavy power plant component from Vale de Cambra to the port of Leca da Palmeira located 60km away. To ensure the safe delivery of this huge metal component (70m x 5.6m x 5.3m) through narrow curves, crossings, and roundabouts, LASO transport experts used two six-axle THP/SL heavy-duty modules. Advanced road studies made possible to prepare individual road sections in time for the nightly transport, for example by removing traffic lights, as well as implement escort convoys and police barriers on schedule. The power plant component was transported to the port within two nights for further shipment at the pier.

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100th jack-up for ALE’s Mega Jack 300

ALE’s Mega Jack 300 completed its 100th jack-up on the Al-Zafour refinery project in Kuwait, which is expected to become one of the largest in the world. ALE is providing the full onshore heavylifting solution for the Fluor Daweoo and Hyundai JV’s module strategy, performing the jack-up, transportation and installation of 188 modules.

The Mega Jack 300 was launched last year and with its 300t capacity it is the latest edition to ALE’s Mega Jack fleet. The Al-Zour Oil Refinery is its first operation. The Mega Jack 300 commenced work on the project in 2018 and previous lifts have included the longest and highest module ever jacked-up and installed in Kuwait.

Sarkis Juvelekian, Project Site Manager, explained, “The Mega Jack 300 is an ideal lifting solution for projects like this that need flexibility and speed from onsite equipment. The system is performing well, even in conditions with high utilisation in environments as harsh as Kuwait’s extreme heat and dust.”

The Al-Zour complex is divided into three projects and includes a refinery, liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing facilities, and a petrochemicals complex. The Al-Zour Oil Refinery’s completion is planned for 2020 and it is expected to deliver 615,000 barrels per day.

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Collett delivers two 335t transformers

Appointed by Daher Projects GmbH, Collett delivered two 335 t transformers from Cruise Terminal 1 at the Port of Dover to Sellindge Substation, United Kingdom. Once at the Port, the Collett Team discharged the first transformer, lifting it from the hold of the vessel to an awaiting 14 axle SPMT and stooling off for storage portside. The second transformer weighing 335 t was lifted from the vessel directly to their Scheuerle girder bridge trailer. Once safely secured to the 79.5m long trailer, at 10pm the Team made a 30 mile trip from the Port of Dover arriving six and a half hours later at the Sellindge Substation site in Ashford, Kent.

Once at the site, the girder bridge was unable to navigate the site roads due to its 79.5m length as well as ground loading restrictions. The Collet Team had to transfer the cargo from the girder bridge to an awaiting SPMT. Equipped with a power pack module, they utilised a 4-file 10-axle configuration and began the transhipment operations. With mats, supports and beams positioned under the transformer Collett Heavy Lift employed the hydraulic capabilities of the girder bridge, lowering the cargo to the supports and allowing the side decks to be autonomously driven clear. Then, utilising climbing jacks, raised the transformer to a sufficient height allowing the 10-axle 4-file SPMT to be driven underneath. Once jacked down to rest on the SPMT, the Team manoeuvred the 335 Tonne transformer to a temporary plinth before jacking & skidding to final position within the substation at a later date.

Collett followed the same procedure to successfully deliver the second transformer.

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ALE tests world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine

ALE has recently used its expertise in heavylifting operations and helped GE to unveil and test world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine, the Haliade-X 12 MW, capable of powering 16,000 European households. Featuring the world’s longest blades, it has a rotor span of 260m.

Transportation of the first Haliade-X 12 MW nacelle took place at its factory in Saint-Nazaire, France. It was moved via SPMT approximately 200m, from the factory in which it was manufactured to the yard. Two nacelles in total were transported by ALE and then loaded onto barges for shipment to Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Blyth, UK. Here, each nacelle will form part of a test installation – one on land, one at sea. The weight of the nacelles was borne by 32 axle lines of SPMT in a 16 x 4 file configuration.

ALE has also completed lift operations to test the yokes that are used to install the Haliade-X 12 MW blades at sea. The yokes – known as Blade Eagles – are 170t and have dimensions of 32m x 10.5m x 14m. To perform this testing, ALE provided a 150t-capacity LR1600 crane and a load cell in slings.

This testing lasted for three days in total, following which the blades were placed back into support frames and the Blade Eagles placed on the quay for later collection by a vessel.The Blade Eagle yokes will be used for all offshore installations of the Haliade-X 12 MW. The turbine as a whole will undergo testing with an aim of mid-2021 for its first commercial production.

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Goldhofer at JDL EXPO 2019

At this year’s JDL EXPO 2019 in Beaune, France, Goldhofer is presenting the SPZ-L 4 (305) flatbed semi-trailer tailored for transporting crane ballast, jibs and booms and heavy accessories. It can be also used to transport compact concrete beams and steel girders, vessels as well as other general cargos.

“The flatbed semi-trailer has a deck length of about 12.4 meters and is therefore the perfect choice for compact payloads such as crane ballast and counterweights. Its pneumatic suspension reduces the impacts on the cargo as well as on the vehicle and road surface. With a maximum steering angle of 48 degrees, the turntable steering offers outstanding maneuverability, so that even the narrowest construction site entrance can be handled with ease,” said Goldhofer.

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Mediaco and Capelle take over AlteAd

It is finally the joint offer of Mediaco-Capelle that was retained today by the Commercial Court of Paris for the takeover of the AlteAd Group, effective from 1st August.

Mediaco therefore integrates the lifting branch of the AlteAd Group with 190 cranes, 470 people and 15 agencies in France. This acquisition allows Mediaco to increase its equipment and its national presence. With this integration, the group Marseillais has a fleet of 800 cranes from 35 to 750 tonnes of capacity, 75 branches, 2,000 employees and a consolidated turnover of 260 million euros, taking the 3rd place in European lifting.

AlteAd’s Transport business will join the Capelle Group on 1st of August as well. The specialized fleet of 390 tractors, 680 trailers, 580 people and 8 establishments reinforce the position of the Capelle Group allowing it to become the European No. 1 in exceptional transport, with a fleet of 1250 tractors, more than 2350 trailers and 1800 employees achieving a consolidated Transport turnover of € 265 million. This major step will enable the Capelle Group to increase its operational capacity in its growth and development strategy.

The recovery of industrial and central services is carried out through joint ventures in JVA.

“The Capelle and Mediaco Groups are proud and pleased to welcome more than 96% of Altead employees into their respective structures. Both family groups have strong historical ties. This merger reinforces the partnership established between them and preserves the synergy of transport and lifting professions by two professionals, leaders of their market “declare the two groups in a joint press release.

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Mammoet announces the acquisition of ALE

The two companies specialized in engineered heavy lifting and transport have just announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of ALE by Mammoet.

Paul van Gelder, CEO of Mammoet, said: “We are very happy with this agreement. Mammoet and ALE complement each other in geographical presence on all continents. Together, we have a well-balanced portfolio of activities worldwide. This enables us to improve our service proposition and create synergies, as we are able to mobilize equipment and personnel swiftly anywhere. Last but not least, Mammoet and ALE both have a strong legacy in innovations which, once combined, will enable us to grow as a technologically leading player.

Mark Harries, Group Managing Director of ALE added: “Mammoet and ALE share a strong ambition to be leading in the engineered heavy lifting and transport sector. Both companies have a strong track record and are renowned for their craftsmanship, innovations and fleet of equipment. We both have shaped the profession of heavy lifting and transport through numerous innovations in the past decades. The prospect of the two companies joining forces is very exciting.”

The closing of the transaction is subject to approval of the relevant competition authorities. Until then, the two companies will continue to operate strictly independently.

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Sarens installs two 1600t bridges in Belgium

Sarens recently completed the installation of two new bridges across the Kieldrecht Lock (Belgium). This lock, also called the Deurganckdok lock, is the largest in the world since its opening in 2016, and allows access to the Port of Antwerp. In order to transport and install the two elements Sarens used the barge “Caroline”. Thanks to this method, the lock was blocked only a minimum of time. Each of the two bridges measured 100m long by 15m wide and weighed 1600t. Dimensions that limited the working space on the barge. However, it took several manoeuvres to rotate the two bridges while they were on the barge. Finally, the strict tidal restriction for one bridge was also a crucial factor. The Sarens team used its CS1000 jacking system, steelworks, and SPMTs as well as the barge and various related marine equipment. Thanks to the careful planning and execution of the different stages, Sarens was able to successfully transport and position the bridges across the Kieldrecht Lock on time.