Buckingham Heavy Transport On the Road to Success in the US
Published: 27/9
Buckingham Heavy Transport, a specializist in oversize and heavy haul transport, recently mastered three challenging jobs with flying colors. The vehicles used included THP/DC dual-lane heavy-duty transporters and PST/SL-E self-propelled modules from transport specialist Goldhofer.
“With Goldhofer’s heavy-duty modules, we’re equipped for the wide range of superloads that we’re asked to transport,” says Buckingham Project Manager Mike Brovont. “Whatever the industry specifications or challenges of the move route or job site, Goldhofer equipment gives us innovative options to safely and successfully deliver each load to its destination.”
The first project, transporting a 218t transformer for a power plant, involved the use of a 12-line Goldhofer THP/DC transporter. A big advantage of the THP/DC is that vehicle width can be changed while rolling. This translates into reduced journey times and long service life with low maintenance requirements. In addition, wireless remote control makes widening, leveling, and steering extremely user-friendly.
Thanks to this unique widening system under full load, transporter width could be increased from 12 to 18 ft (3.6 to 5.5m) after negotiating some tight bends in order to maneuver out of the rail siding. In spite of various challenges, including a steep level crossing requiring use of the full 27.5-in (700mm) suspension stroke, and the need to disconnect seven power lines along the route and also to fill a pit with gravel and cover it with steel plates, the Buckingham team had no difficulty in getting the transformer safely to its destination.
The THP/DC modules also demonstrated their strengths in the second job involving transport of two heavy pressings. Using a 10-line Goldhofer THP/DC transporter with gooseneck and 14-ft (4.3m) basic width, the Buckingham team was able to obtain permits to drive the 113.5t pressings through eight states – thanks to the flexibility of the rig in terms of vehicle width. The last job involved transporting a 225t slug catcher over a distance of 50 miles (80.4 km). The key to this operation was the impressive capabilities of Goldhofer’s PST/SL-E self-propelled transporters. The challenge was to offload the slug catcher from a barge and onto the PST modular transporter and then drive it up a steep grade from the river to the transload site.
Thanks to the Goldhofer PST/SL-E with maximum 45t axle load and a huge180 kN tractive power per drive axle, even this challenge was no problem for the Buckingham team. With the help of electronic multiway steering, the slug catcher was maneuvered precisely to the transload site, lifted onto a 12-line Goldhofer THP/DC transporter and delivered safely to its destination.
