Silamas has revealed that Goldhofer’s heavy-duty transporters played a pivotal role in ensuring the continuing operation of a Japanese power station.
The company’s Hydronic system enabled two of its vehicles to be directed by one operator to transport two heavy waste gas scrubbers onto a barge destined for the Takehara coal-fired power station in Hiroshima, Japan.
One parallel transporter combination had two 16-axle PST/SLE and an 8-axle THP/SL, while the second combination featured one 4-axle PST/SL, one 6-axel PST/SL and an 18-axle THP/SL.
A Goldhofer spokesman said, “With a tractive force of 160kN per driven axle line and a particularly sturdy frame, the PST/SL series is one of the heavy-duty modules with the highest loading capacity on the market, while the THP/SL modules, with their high bending moment, come into their own when handling concentrated loads in particular.”
Large, heavy baggage
Weighing 2,100 tons and measuring 16 x 36.1 x 36m (53 x 118.4 x 118ft) each, the scrubbers were moved over a distance of approximately 800m (2,624ft) to the quay where the barge was waiting for them.
Teeraphap Juntorn, Silamas engineering manager, said, “In view of the enormous weight and dimensions of the units, we finally opted for two 24-axle parallel combinations.
“What I found especially convincing for this operation was the use of the Goldhofer Hydronic steering system, which enabled us to control the entire vehicle combination with just one operator.”
One challenge was that the different types of vehicles had to be coordinated to form a synchronised transport unit. Goldhofer’s computerized hydraulic steering control unit enables rod-steered THP/SL modules to be synchronised with the electronic steering systems of the self-propelled vehicles.
Another challenge was the subsequent drive onto the barge. Due to the limited space available at the loading point, the 40m (131ft-)-long transporter had to approach the transport ship at an angle. Silamas personnel and the crew of the barge worked together to place the cargo exactly on the foundation installed in the middle of the barge.
“Thanks to the thorough preparations, we were easily able to comply with the project schedule and load both units within a week. It is always a great feeling when different teams work so well together on the first trip right from the start,” added Juntorn.
