At NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer electric generating station in Wheatfield, Ind., nearly a dozen cranes from Central Rent-A-Crane in Hammond, Ind., a member of the ALL Family of Companies, helped with the utility’s construction of two wet flue gas desulfurization units, which are intended to improve overall air quality by further reducing emissions.
Central’s 1,000-ton Manitowoc 21000 crawler with 180 feet of main boom, a 260-foot luffing jib and 72-foot MAX-ER attachment set sections of ductwork over several weeks. The heaviest duct weighed 200,000 pounds, but the real challenge was a tight site that required loads to be set “in the blind” — that is the operator could not see the set locations and had to be signaled by radio communication.
The Central team was easily able to mitigate this challenge, thanks in part to the training the company provides. The updated Federal OSHA standard, Cranes and Derricks in Construction 1926.1400, was designed to ensure jobsite safety and to outline responsibilities of all involved parties — the crane rental company, the contractor that hires the crane and the general contractor. One of the most important rules requires the use of a certified signal person if a crane is operating in the blind. Sections 1926.1419 and 1926.1428 of the standard specify the person giving hand or audio signals must be certified by a qualified third party. Every ALL crane operator and signal person has been trained and certified, and carries cards documenting their status. This procedure was in place well before the new standard became effective.
Central also supplied various smaller rough terrain (RT) and all terrain cranes for the Schahfer project, including Manitowoc 888 with RINGER® (660 tons) and Manitowoc 999 Series 3 (275 tons) crawler cranes; a Grove GMK7550 (550 tons) all terrain crane; Link-Belt RTC8100 (100 tons) and Link-Belt RTC8090 (90 tons) RT cranes; and a Shuttlelift CD7725 (25 tons) carrydeck crane.
The workhorse GMK7550 was utilized to erect and dismantle the Manitowoc 21000 and also set the final pieces of ductwork. The Manitowoc 999 helped erect absorbers. The Link-Belt RTs are utility cranes and were used to support steel work and handle many small lifts over the course of the project.
It is a rare crane rental company that has the accumulated experience or depth of fleet to handle lengthy or complex jobs. As a member of the ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. Family of Companies, one of North America’s largest privately held crane rental and sales companies, Central Rent-A-Crane has a bounty of resources at its fingertips — one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced fleets, generations of experienced leader-ship, dedicated personnel, an excellent safety record and well-maintained equipment. Drawing on its experience in the power generation arena, Central can provide exactly the type and capacity of crane power that your project requires.
The ALL Family of Companies offers long-term or daily equipment rentals, new and used crane sales, parts and 24/7 service. The company’s 50-year legacy of excellence fosters continual skills and safety training and an unwavering commitment to safety on the job and on the road. That is ALL — a North American lift leader.
For more information, visit www.allcrane.com or call (800) 232-4100.
