GATOR RIGGING UTILIZES STRAIGHTPOINT LOAD CELLS

Straightpoint force measurement, load monitoring and suspended weighing load cell equipment is integral to fabrication and periodic testing of equipment at two facilities that serve the U.S. marine industry. Gator Rigging, Inspection, Testing & Supply LLC offers a myriad of rigging services, including inspection, load testing and consulting for heavy and critical lifts. It utilizes load cells at its Morgan City and Cut Off, Louisiana sites, where each has a horizontal test bed. The Morgan City bed is capable of pulling 130 tons, while in Cut Off they are able to pull 35 tons more than that. There is already a vertical test bed in Morgan City that pulls 100 tons, which is upwards pulling power the company is looking to match in Cut Off. In one recent application at the Morgan City site, Gator used load cells in conjunction with its vertical test bed to complete an annual inspection of marine equipment. A Straightpoint load cell was connected to the vertical test bed hydraulic ram and integrated load cell using a 25 ton shackle. Another 25 ton shackle was then placed onto the bottom end of the Straightpoint load cell. Using a four-leg sling the equipment was then lifted and weighed with both load cells providing almost precisely the same result. Jeremy Houghton, marine consultant and inside sales, said: “The inspection was a success and we envisage utilizing Straightpoint equipment again for similar applications in the future.” Straightpoint load shackles are manufactured from Crosby’s industry-leading 2130 Carbon and 2140 Alloy Bolt Type Anchor Shackles to 120t and the GN H10 Alloy Bolt Type Anchor Shackle or equivalent in greater capacities. The wireless data logging software allows for simultaneous control, display and real time data logging of up to 100 Straightpoint telemetry load cells. It is also available in a cabled version, particularly suited to subsea environments. Gator’s marine customers require use of the test rigs for a variety of reasons, including the certification of weights required to complete lift plans and load outs of equipment. Houghton, who is responsible for consultancy and inspection at the Cut Off facility, added: “As a marine consultant, when assisting customers with the fabrication stage of jobs, the equipment must have a certified weight so the engineers can complete the lift plans and drawings for upcoming load outs of equipment. The load cells provide accurate weights so our engineers can produce these lift plans and drawings.” Plans are already afoot to build a fourth custom-built rig at Cut Off expect to pull 100 tons or even more.

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