Extreme Precision load test CLA-tool
Load test required
The Casing Lifting Adapter has a capacity of 308 tonnes and is a customised lifting tool. For this reason it is necessary to perform a so-called load test. It tests whether the Casing Lifting Adapter does indeed have the required lifting capacity and can withstand any additional load that may arise during the work.
Load test specialists
For the Casing Lifting Adapter in question, this meant that a load test of up to 387 tonnes had to be carried out. Quite a challenge, because how do you approach a load test of this magnitude? And which equipment do you use?
High time to call in the specialists of Wagenborg Nedlift, the offshore construction specialists of Breman Machinery thought.
Considering options
No sooner said than done. Michel de Jong, senior project manager of Wagenborg Nedlift who has been a familiar face at Breman Machinery for many years, studied the load test issue. The first idea to perform the load test with mobile cranes was quickly discarded: this would require two very heavy cranes, which would not only pose considerable technical challenges, but also result in considerable costs.
Temporary test bench
A horizontal test set-up seemed more feasible according to Michel, and thus the engineers from Wagenborg Engineering, the expertise centre of Wagenborg Nedlift, worked out the details. The idea was to build a temporary test bench by using Wagenborg's hoisting beams, steel ramps, lifting gantry beams and jacks.
Using the horizontally positioned jacks would allow building up a tensile force on the Adapter equal to the required tonnage. With load cells placed between the jacks and gantry beams, it was possible to accurately measure and record the tensile force. This well thought-out, efficient and safe solution passed the technical assessment of Bremen's specialists and that of Van Oord with flying colours.
Extreme precision load test
In early March the big day had arrived: the necessary parts for the temporary test bench were delivered and assembled in Breman's construction hall in Genemuiden.
Under supervision of the auditors of DNVGL, the Wagenborg Nedlift specialists performed a safe and accurately recorded load test for two positions of the Casing Lifting Adapter.
A great result for the specialists of both Breman Machinery and Wagenborg Nedlift!
Partnership Breman Machinery and Wagenborg Nedlift
Breman Machinery and Wagenborg Nedlift have been collaborating for years. For example, Wagenborg Nedlift carries out the lifting and transportation of the ultra-heavy parts that are manufactured in Genemuiden and IJmuiden.
In turn, Breman Machinery fabricated the Modular Support System of Wagenborg Nedlift, a multifunctional support system that offers a solution for the movement of bridges, for example.
