Quick, safe, accurate control of heavy loads in motion

When a large object is moved, stresses are placed on the object due to uneven weight distribution or load-shifts between the lift points. If the mover is not careful, the object can bend or twist creating a stress riser that can cause hundreds of thousands - or, in the worst cases - millions of dollars in damage.

SPX Power Team's Motion Control System operates by digitally controlling the movement of an object, keeping it safely level within parameters specified by the user. The Motion Control System hardware and software was tested recently by SPX Power Team's Norway distributor, SP Tools AS, for Radøygruppen AS, a developer and manufacturer of advanced steel structures, and their client, an oil and gas structure company.

Radøygruppen AS' client developed a subsea wet gas compressor station comprising a subsea steel structure frame with two sensitive wet gas compressors inside, weighing a total of 650 tonnes.

SP Tools AS' CEO/Manager, Stig Pisani, says: "Radøygruppen AS needed an accurate synchronised pump to help lift the station and transport it from production to shipping more quickly, safely and accurately. Initial tests revealed that improvements could be made to the Motion Control System to help achieve this."

The Motion Control System software was upgraded to allow SP Tools AS/Radøygruppen AS to measure the centre of gravity. The pump was also upgraded to the SPX Power Team PQ120 electric pump to synchronise the lift and increase the flow rate to 120cuin/min to allow the pump to lift the structure four times so it would be high enough to measure the centre of gravity.

This improved software and pump and four 280 high-tonnage hydraulic cylinders (SPX Power Team R2806D) were used to measure the centre of gravity and quickly, safely and accurately transport the two 450 tonne compressors for the subsea wet gas compressor station.

Stig Pisani says: "SP tools chose SPX Power Team's Motion Control System because its technology is very reliable and simple and allows for the customer to safely transport a large 400-650 tonne structure."

After these improvements were made, Radøygruppen AS bought a second unit. The improved features are now included as standard in all SPX Power Team Motion Control System units.

SPX Hydraulic Technologies, Territory Manager, Sven-Erik Torstensson, says: "This is a great example of the power of collaboration to enhance and refine our products and provide solutions tailored to meet our customers' specific needs and the improvements made to the Motion Control System means all our customers benefit."

For further information about the lifting and lowering Motion Control System please visit www.spx.com.