126,000 lb. Mission Critical Generator Set

The Challenge – Rigging in Tight Spaces

Due to tight spaces and the exact setting of the generator, weeks of measurements, calculations, and critical design decisions were made by the Dallas team. It took every inch of space from overhead room, gantry setup, and even the MEI platform to make the plan work. Critical design decisions made by the MEI Rigging Operations Manager, Superintendent, and the field team, including rigging, lift points, pick plan, crane, and the customer, made this job possible.

The MEI Solution

The MEI team offloaded and set the 50’ x12’ subframe onto an MEI platform, then rigged and secured the generator. The MEI crew rigged and set the enclosure and married together all 3 pieces to be moved as one, weighing 126,000 lbs. With precision, using eight trail skates along with the winches, the team skated the assembled generator under the customer’s steel structure. Once in place, the team then rigged the 3-piece generator to the 250-ton gantry set using the (8) 10-ton chain hoists. MEI then hoisted the generator within ¼” of the overhead steel structure and placed maroon blocks under it for safety. The next step was to rig, offload, and pin roll (2) 25’L x 12’W steel tanks (25,000lbs each) using the MEI platform, 1” pin rollers, and winches. The MEI team carefully pin-rolled each tank under the generator with only ½” clearance between the tank stub-ups and the bottom of the subframe. Once both tanks were set in place and married, the team used the 250-ton gantry to carefully lower the 3-piece generator onto the tanks, ensuring all bolt holes, exhaust, and fuel lines lined up and married together to complete the scope.