Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) supplied a variety of below-the-hook equipment as Sarens UK lifted bridge sections with a 250t capacity Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane.

Sarens, a provider of crane rental, heavy lifting, and engineered transport services, requested a series of Modulift spreader beams and CMOD spreader frames, which were used in combination with slings and chain hoists on the five-axle mobile crane.

The bridge sections were manufactured with concrete anchors, to which chain hoists were connected from each corner of the spreader frames, rigged at either end of the spreader beams. The complete rigging set included one MOD50 at 9.5m; one MOD110 at 14.5m; another MOD110 at 13m; plus, CMOD50 and CMOD34 frames, each set-up at 1m by 1m.

RSS offers a comprehensive portfolio of lifting and rigging hardware and training, in addition to live365 digitalisation and compliance technology. It supplies blocks, shackles, hooks, slings and harnesses — all covered by periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) examinations — to some of the UK’s most notable large-scale infrastructure projects and blue chip firms.

It operates a network of depots that serve the UK nationwide; in this instance, facilities in Grangemouth and Glasgow, Scotland, combined with those in Rotherham, Warrington, Heathrow and Aylesford to meet the specific requirements of Sarens.

Chris Winton, depot manager at RSS, said: “Projects like this demonstrate the importance of having the right below-the-hook equipment for the lifting operation. The bridge sections required a combination of spreader beams and [CMOD] frames, together with chain hoists and slings, to create the required rigging arrangement. With several different configurations involved, it was important that the equipment supplied matched the requirements of each lift.

“Supporting a project of this scale also relies on good coordination between teams. Our role was to provide the equipment required by Sarens and draw on our depot network to bring everything together, with facilities across Scotland and England contributing to the overall requirement. It’s a good example of how RSS can support complex lifting operations with both the equipment and technical expertise needed to deliver them.”

As Winton explained, spreader frames and lifting frames are recommended for loads that have more than two lifting points; they can also be the ideal lifting equipment when headroom is limited. Modulift offers several types of spreader frames for multi-point lifts. The CMOD (like the TriMOD frame) is a convenient, cost-effective solution. If a customer already has MOD struts, they can reuse these with the corner units to make a four-point CMOD system. If required, they can even combine with T-pieces to make a six- or eight-point CMOD spreader frame.

Winton added: “The requirement doesn’t end with this lift, as the equipment is scheduled for a repeat hire at the end of the month. It’s a case study in the ongoing support we can provide when customers need reliable access to specialist below-the-hook equipment across multiple stages of a project.”

Sarens’ Grove GMK5250XL-1 AT can lift its maximum 250t capacity at a 3m radius; the outrigger dimensions allow operation in restricted urban or industrial zones.

Caption: RSS supplied below-the-hook equipment as bridge sections were lifted with a 250t capacity Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane.

Caption: Lifting the bridge sections required a combination of spreader beams, frames and other rigging gear.

Contacts for editorial enquiries: Steve Hutin, steve@rssgroup.co.uk