Case Study: Andrews Infrastructure - Sewer Main remote inspection

Problem: Andrews Infrastructure provides remote sewer-main inspection to municipalities. A problem for the firm was the lowering and retrieval of its cameras and umbilical cords down deep shafts. The physical work involved in lowering and retrieving the equipment was tiring, time consuming, and dangerous to both the Operators and the equipment. Operators had to stand close to the shaft opening and work to keep the equipment away from the shaft stairs and concrete walls.

While working on a job at the City of Toronto, Ontario the owner of Andrews saw an eme GANTRY Crane in use. He contacted eme to see if they could provide a solution to his lifting problem.

Solution: eme staff determined that the answer was to use a model 1100R GANTRY Crane with an electric winch with 300 ft. of cable; this would cover any application that the Company might ever have. The winch was attached to one of the GANTRY Leg's Slant Strut; the cable was run up and over a nylon sheave which had been placed between Custom Cheek Plates and a nylon sheave on the Beam Trolley.

The winch is removable so that the GANTRY could also be used for standard lifting tasks when it was not required to be used with the camera equipment. Weighing only 155 lbs. the 1100R breaks down into three pieces and is compact enough to be transported in a compact pickup or standard cube van. Assembly takes mere minutes by one or two operators without the need for any rigging equipment. Due to its lightweight and solid construction, the 1100R can be easily moved over gravel, grass, pavement or loose earth.

The winch is run off a portable generator which makes the 1100R a truly portable solution. It can be used wherever it is needed.

The photos show the unit set up over a manhole, being used in conjunction with a confined- space davit crane. The standard operating height of the 1100R does not interfere in the operation of the davit crane, but, in fact, it can be an assist by quickly lowering or retrieving tools needed by operators who might be working in the main sewer or access shaft.

The 1100R GANTRY Crane used by Andrews Infrastructure meets eme's three goals:

1. Improve Operator safety
   
2. Increase plant maintenance efficiency
   
3. Reduce equipment costs