G&G transports turbine shaft through winter weather

G&G Specialized Carriers navigated the challenging heavy haul of a 147,400-pound turbine shaft. Using a Manitowoc crawler crane, the shaft was offloaded onto G&G’s transport system at the Port of Milwaukee. The route to the destination was a little more than 100 miles, but it was greatly complicated by below zero-degree temperatures, 12 inches of snow on the ground and high winds.

The gross weight of the turbine shaft was 231,000 pounds.

“The route was 103 miles of pure hell,” said G&G’s Robbie Swan. “Blowing snow, high winds and cars were parked and stalled along the roadway. There were also a lot of tight turns to make.”

Key to success

He said the key to the successful transport was the Faymonville MultiMAX 3+3 single drop trailer.

The loaded-out transport was 94 feet long.

“If we didn’t have this Faymonville single-drop trailer, this trip would have been a flop,” he said.

With a gross weight of 231,000 pounds, the turbine measured 36 feet in length. The loaded-out transport was 94 feet long.

The turbine shaft was sitting within circular saddles that were lashed to the trailer with chains. The duration of the journey was 12.5 hours.

The Faymonville MultiMAX is suited for a variety of heavy haul tasks, said Swan.

“It offers great versatility thanks to a combination of payload capacity, maneuverability, low mobilization costs and a double stretch, allowing flexible spacings between the axle tridems and a total deck length up to 77 feet,” he said. “The vehicle complies with DOT requirements and its fully galvanized frame ensures corrosion protection.”

The 103-mile trip included high winds, a snow storm and sub-zero degree temperatures.

The hydraulic lifting and lowering of the neck allows optimal ground clearance on uneven terrain or when passing railway crossings and other obstacles. While the 3-axle front bogie with caster-steered axles follows the truck, the rear bogie counter steers using state-of-the-art king-pin steering including remote control override, the company said.

This combination ensures an ideal turning radius and helps to manage and enter tight corners and jobsites. Within a length of 53 feet and a width of 100 inches, when closed, it can be mobilized quickly without any escorts or permits. The MultiMAX has a strong chassis design and offers high stability, while keeping the tare weight low, the company said.