Rental Firm Chooses Modulift Spreaders to Lift Kiln Sections

Canadian crane rental company Guay Inc. used Modulift spreader beams below-the-hook of two Manitowoc crawler cranes during installation of a six-section clinker kiln at the McInnis Cement plant development at Port-Daniel-Gascons, Québec.

Lifting operations were carried out in early spring but equipment still had to withstand extreme weather on the Canadian coast, including heavy snowfall. Lift planning had to account for the changes in conditions and constantly evolving jobsite environment.

The plant is one of the most important industrial projects currently under development in Canada, scheduled for completion later this year. McInnis has reported that it will be a ‘model of environmental performance’, meeting the highest standards in the world.

Initially the six pieces were assembled in pairs at ground level before the resulting sections were lifted and assembled in three subsequent lifts. Two were carried out by a Manitowoc 16000 MAX-ER and the other by a Manitowoc 2250. Lifting operations concluded with a tandem lift utilising both cranes to align the three sections in their final positions.

A pair of MOD 250/300 beams were used at spans of 12m (approx. 40 ft) for each lift, including the heaviest kiln section that was 618,000 lbs. and 85 ft (approx. 26m) in length. The Manitowoc 16000 was rigged with a 177-ft (approx. 54m) boom and 332,000 lbs. plus 120,000 lbs. counterweight, with 511,400 lbs. on the wheeled MAX-ER. The Manitowoc 2250, meanwhile, had a boom length of 170 ft (approx. 52 ft) in Series 3 with 249,200 lbs. plus 120,000 lbs. counterweight. Both cranes worked at approx. 30 ft (approx. 9m) radius to lift the heaviest loads.

Rafael Palomar, team leader of Guay’s technical department, said: “Our scope of work for the project covered all lifting-related requirements, including selection of cranes and rigging equipment, ground preparations and logistics, in addition to lift coordination and supervision. Given the demands of the project combined with the weather, selecting suitable, durable equipment was essential to delivering our commitment to the landmark project.”

The Manitowoc 16000 and MOD 250/300 beam combine to lift a clinker kiln section at the McInnis Cement plant, Port-Daniel-Gascons, Québec. This is a 618,000 lb., piece representing the second of the six sections lifted.

Palomar explained that the Modulift beams were chosen because of their capacity and span plus the ease with which length could be adjusted onsite. In order to lift the sections to their final positions at the right angle, rigging equipment had to be adjusted according to the centre of gravities, as calculated during the planning stages of the project.

Guay, which recently celebrated 50 years in the crane industry, serves Québec and surrounding regions with a fleet of over 500 cranes, including mobile, tower and other lifting technologies in addition to a fully-stocked rigging shop, which includes a variety of Modulift spreader beams and other below-the-hook equipment.