BELOW THE HOOK Ӏ NOVEMBER 2022
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rotation first appeared a couple of years ago with two
products, both from Australia, that work on related but different technologies. One, the Roborigger, imparts angular momentum from a horizontally-spinning fan; the other, the Verton, generates torque through gyroscopes. Both are fitted between the hook and the load. The Verton comes in modules that function as spreader bars: one or more modules can be joined together to suit larger or longer loads.
American below-the-hook specialists The Crosby Group last year invested heavily in Verton and this year announced a collaboration in the market to accelerate the adoption of what they call this game-changing technology. The potential in below-the-hook
anti-rotation devices is not limited to just steadying or orienting the load. With ground-crew – that is, people - safely removed from the area of the descending load full automation of the operation, and hence of the crane itself,
Britlift provides extra precision for HS2 projects
More precise spreader beams have enabled complex lifting operations for a contractor working on HS2. London-based Züblin Ground Engineering specialises in complex infrastructure projects. It recently completed two HS2 projects run by the Skanska- Costain-STRABAG joint venture; STRABAG is Züblin’s parent company. At North Acton, the contractor has constructed a diaphragm wall for a crossover
box in Victoria Road. The box, measuring up to 125m x 39m, will enable trains to switch tracks when entering or leaving Old Oak Common Station. Züblin required modular spreader beams for precise lifting of steel reinforcing cages for this project. It turned to Dorset-based Britlift to provide the solution. Steve Williams, lifting and logistics manager for Züblin Ground Engineering,
said: “We had previously used another provider. Our previous spreader beams were incrementally 500mm in length whereas Britlift’s beams are in 250mm increments, enabling us to make far more precise lifts. This made a huge difference as each lift had to be inch perfect. Without this additional precision, these operations would have been much more challenging.” HS2 has strict emissions regulations on trucks taking materials and products to sites, which meant that none of Britlift’s usual logistics partners could deliver. Britlift made the deliveries itself, with managing director Liam Botting taking charge for one run. “We were very impressed with the personal touch from Liam and the overall customer service,” added Williams. “They were able to deliver each order within a couple of days. Britlift provided us with a higher specifi cation product that gave us greater precision – and at a competitive price.”
Vita Inclinata’s Load Navigator
becomes possible. And indeed Roborigger earlier this year got together with Japanese general construction company Sumitomo Mitsui Construction (SMCC) and engineering corporation IHI to do exactly that. They have designed and are developing the first autonomous tower crane, and it has just completed its first construction project. Beginning in March, and finishing in October, it has successfully built the Seiseki Sakuragaoka project, a
f
Züblin required the precision Britlift's beams provided
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