The scope of work was two-pronged in that it covered the removal and relocation of one unit, in addition to the positioning of a larger transformer on the vacated foundation.
Josh Sohler, operations manager at Dynamic, explains: “This was a difficult project for us to secure as the local crane company had done a very good job of convincing the client that a jacking and sliding system was simply too slow and they could beat our schedule. While our method was already more cost effective it took some convincing to demonstrate that we could get the work done at the same pace, once they factored in crane set-up time etc.”
The existing transformer weighed 190,000 lbs. and measured 20’5” x 18’ x 14’9”, while the other (to be kept as a spare) was larger, at 28’2” x 18’6” x 18’1, and weighed in at 300,000 lbs.
The alternative solution utilised Dynamic Specialized’s HT500 heavy track hydraulic skidding system and a Hydra-Slide turntable of the same capacity.
The HT500 was employed to slide the loads, while the turntable rotated the larger transformer 90 degrees – a requirement due to leaving it “fully dressed”.
“The transformer was scheduled to be disassembled, drained and have all of the bushings removed as they had originally planned on the crane lift,” Sohler says.
“Once onsite, we worked with the other contractors to evaluate the conditions and special limitations and decided we could in fact move the heavier transformer fully dressed from its storage location to its final pad, providing we could rotate it to create clearance for the radiators.
“Our method shaved several days off the original schedule as the unit did not have to be disassembled or reassembled in its final resting place. The project was an eye-opener for the client on the potential of the Hydra-Slide range.”