Spider designs largest blade access platform

Spider, a division of SafeWorks, has completed its largest ever 360° Blade Access Platform (BAP) for power generation giant Alstom.

Spider was brought in to design, manufacture and rig the BAP to provide access to a 3 MW prototype turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, USA to conduct research and development on power performance improvements.

The scope of work required the platform to pass the maximum chord on the blades and have access to the blades’ root.

Spider technicians also surveyed the turbine to develop a rigging plan that allowed the use of a four-hoist platform by routing the rigging slings over the blades in a bunny ear position. With Spider on site daily to handle the rigging needs and provide immediate support throughout the three-week project, Alstom’s blade technicians were able to focus on their work.

“In addition to providing a stable and safe working platform, Spider’s management of design, construction, rigging and on-site support allowed us to complete our project without any issues,” said Jon Campbell, innovation programme manager with Alstom.