Heavy lift specialist Cortland Company has again proven its onshore capabilities by collaborating on a critical lifting and lowering project in Cleveland, Ohio.
The firm, typically known for its offshore projects, was chosen for its Plasma® Synthetic Rope Slings which are known for their ability to replace steel wire rope on a size for size basis, and exceptional durability.
Cortland’s products supported a major municipal construction operation in Ohio, Project Clean Lake, which involves the extension of sewerage systems to reduce the volume of rainwater and contaminates entering Lake Erie during emergency overflows.
A 495-tonne boring machine was lifted from a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter unit to a gantry lift before being lowered underground. PSC Crane and Rigging out of Piqua, OH was the company that lifted, transported, lowered and set the boring machine. The lifting-and-lowering project took a total of 10 hours to complete in sustained below freezing temperatures in downtown Cleveland.
Brooks Nunley, Technical Sales and Key Account Manager for Cortland, said: “We were pleased that our Plasma slings were chosen for Project Clean Lake. Our products are proven to perform on even the most demanding job-sites as demonstrated by this latest heavy lift.
“Our customers understand the benefits that lightweight Plasma 12×12 rope slings offer to logistics, job-site storage and safety during projects like these. The teams on-site can handle the ropes with greater ease than steel or bulky round sling alternatives. Plasma slings are truly the new standard in high performance synthetic slings.
Typically there are two options available to complete these types of projects: wire rope slings or large round slings. Our alternative is the Plasma 12×12 braided rope sling, which is seven times lighter than the weight of a wire rope and about half the size of a round sling. It also only requires about half of the hardware width of most high performance round slings availble on the market today.”
Richard Miller, Lifting Specialist on this project, said: “We have been aware of Plasma rope slings as a lifting and lowering solution since they were used in a testing environment several years ago. It was obvious that they were easier to handle and rig than wire alternatives. Recent use has shown that they far out last synthetic slings on the market and we were satisfied with the positive outcome on this complex application.”
The use of the Plasma products demonstrates the cross-industry evolution from the use of steel and polyester to modern high performance synthetic sling alternatives. Cortland has recently delivered similar solutions in marine, mining and oil and gas.
