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Why APPI:  Tower cranes provide an efficient material handling solution for high-lift applications on long duration projects such as new construction and major renovation projects.  The high cost associated with renting and setting up a tower crane, or a mobile crane when building heights would allow their use, makes them prohibitively expensive for smaller projects.

Crystal Services, a leading industrial rigging company in Alberta, Canada, turned to APPI while researching for an alternative to the high cost of using a tower crane for high-lift applications.  They required a high lift hoist system that could be transported to the top of a building freight elevators that would not sacrifice capacity or speed to ensure their projects came in on time and budget.

Working closely with Crystal Services Operations Manager, Cam Moody, it was determined one of our Columbia HL7000-4A17-L-04 AC electric hoists would meet their performance requirements.  By adding one of our proprietary AutoAdvance Line Spoolers – installed in an inverted position –  proper line spooling, even with minimal fleet angle, was ensured.

Cam indicated that this high lift hoist system has worked so well as an alternative to using a tower crane they are expanding their business and will be adding additional systems in the near future.

Please contact us if you would like more information about this particular high lift hoist system or any of our other products and services.

Allied Power Products, Inc. has specialized in providing winches, hoists, capstans and cranes to meet our customers’ specific application requirements for more than 30 years.

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Why APPI:  The University of Alberta first put a Columbia hoist into service raising and lowering the flare ignitor assembly – which starts the gases coming out of their waste stack burning – over 14 years ago.  The manual override has been invaluable as it has allowed them to raise and lower the ignitor when they have experienced power outages.

The unique features of this hoist, including the automatic brake and planetary reduction, were important when the University of Alberta to initially purchased their first Columbia flare stack hoist.  When it came time for an additional hoist, the durability and reliability of their original hoist made another Columbia HF1000-2A17-L-02 hoist an automatic choice.

Please contact us if you would like more information about these particular flare stack hoists or any of our other products and services.

Allied Power Products, Inc. has specialized in providing winches, hoists, capstans and cranes to meet our customers’ specific application requirements for more than 30 years.

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Why APPI: Like most big cities, the streets of San Francisco are mostly deserted at 4:00 AM. A few months ago, this stillness was broken when a tractor and lowboy pulled into an alley next to Union Bank at the California Building in the Financial District. After parking, a crew of three riggers went to work preparing the trailer’s load for a 24-story ride to the top of the bank. Shortly after that, a load block rigged with three parts of line was lowered from above, connected to the lift rigging and the new chiller for the building’s HVAC system – with a weight of six tons – made a quick, quiet and uneventful ride up to its new home. In less than half an hour, the alley was clear again, and the truck that delivered the load was out of downtown before the meter readers were on duty.

What was noteworthy about this pick is that it was made with a 7-Ton capacity guy derrick owned by Sheedy Drayage Co. of San Francisco that has been in service with them since it was built in 1992. Similar to units that were commonplace in high-rise construction sites until the mid-60s, the derrick used for this lift was most recently overhauled in 2011. The decision was also made to look for a replacement construction hoist system drum set. The one used the derrick was heavy, complicated to install, and difficult to operate due to its age and design.

When the general contractor for the work on the bank building approached Sheedy about this lift, it was clear that the guy derrick working from the roof would be far more cost-effective than bringing in a mobile crane with enough boom and jib to do the job – especially when the cost of permits to block the streets while the work was being performed was factored into the pricing equation. The unit Sheedy used for the lift breaks down into pieces small enough to ride on a freight elevator; after a short assembly and anchoring process is ready to work. Although it takes more time than raising the boom on a mobile crane, the return on investment is far higher for the guy derrick, while the total cost to the customer is lower.

Chris Gregori, Sheedy’s project manager, said the key to making the guy derrick work well for this job was adding a construction hoist system set from Allied Power Products, Inc. of Beaverton, OR. Featuring dual motors, dual brakes, and dual planetary reductions, each construction hoist in the waterfall set is capable of 7500 lbs of line pull on the bare drum with room for 2,700 feet of 1/2″ diameter wire rope on each drum. Line speed is infinitely variable from 0 to 316 fpm on the first layer to a maximum of 497 fpm on the top layer. Then, using a single joystick with proportional control to operate each drum and programmable “ramping,” they automatically return to the neutral/stop position when released by the operator. The boom swinger is the original – and very effective – manual system operated by one of the crew.

Gregori said the discussion as to the final hoist specifications was time-consuming as they wanted them to be as flexible as possible concerning other usages in the future. However, he added that the effort was worthwhile in the end as the hoists are precisely what they needed, and their performance and support from APPI have been excellent. This, says Gregori, is extremely important. This classic piece of equipment has already been scheduled for several more high lift applications, including one later in 2014 just a few blocks away from the California Building.

Please contact us if you would like more information about this particular construction hoist or any of our other products and services.

Allied Power Products, Inc. has specialized in providing winches, hoists, capstans, and cranes to meet our customers’ specific application requirements for more than 30 years.

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Why  APPI: Attracting a colony of purple martins, the largest North American swallow, to share your home is no small task. So when Gordy’s Machine & Tool in Fairfield, IL, was contracted to build a series of martin bird colonies, they contacted Allied Power Products, Inc. for assistance with their hoist system.

With the average martin house sitting upwards of 20 feet in the air, the Columbia HC1500-1A25-L-11 AC Electric Hoist raises and lowers the house on its mast for service throughout the year. The hoist is powered by a 3/4 horsepower washdown-duty-rated motor equipped for outdoor use. The hoist is treated with an epoxy overcoat and stainless steel fasteners to ensure protection from the elements and corrosion from moisture.

The maintenance hoist uses a NEMA 4X rated handheld pendant with UP/DOWN momentary contacts. The pendant and lead can be disconnected from the enclosure and stored when not in use for safety and security. When power is not available, the houses can be raised and lowered by a manual override crank incorporated into the hoist’s gear end. An aluminum base plate was included for ease of installation, and a cable tension plate is equipped to help prevent bird-nesting (of the wire rope).

For more information about Purple Martin Conservation, visit here.

Please contact us if you would like more information about this particular maintenance hoist or any of our other products and services.

Allied Power Products, Inc. has specialized in providing winches, hoists, capstans and cranes to meet our customers’ specific application requirements for more than 30 years.

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The challenge of lowering window washing and maintenance equipment over the arc’d veils of this building was no small feat to overcome, and we are pleased with our role in the project. More importantly, the building constructor and owner are pleased with our performance in handling their needs as well.

Click here for more examples and performance data about the Columbia HC2000.

Please contact us if you would like more information about this particular window washing platform hoist system or any of our other products and services.

Allied Power Products, Inc. has specialized in providing winches, hoists, capstans, and cranes to meet our customers’ specific application requirements for more than 30 years.

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Customer: LS Technologies LLC

Location: Hartford, Connecticut

Hoist Model: Columbia HD2000 AC Electric Hoist

Performance:

• Line Pull: 2,000 pounds
• Line Speed: 12 feet per minute
• Cable Capacity: 550 feet X 1/8″ wire rope
• Power Source: 120 VAC 1 Phase input power

Why APPI:

LS Technologies LLC, a specialist in network implementation, maintenance, engineering, and program management support, faced a daunting task at the Greater Hartford Airport in Connecticut. Contracted by the DOT, they needed to replace a defunct communications dish atop a 285-foot tower, battling extreme weather conditions and strict safety protocols.

The project presented several critical challenges:

1. Extreme cold: Wind chill temperatures plummeted to -10°F at the 250-foot installation height.
2. Severe time constraints: Workers were limited to 20-minute intervals on the tower due to the harsh conditions.
3. Logistical hurdles: It took nearly 20 minutes just to climb the tower, leaving minimal time for actual work.
4. Heavy lifting: The need to safely maneuver a 5.5-foot wide, 300-pound antenna at extreme heights.

Allied Power Products, Inc. (APPI) rose to the challenge by providing the Columbia HD2000 AC electric hoist, specifically engineered for this high-lift application.

Key features of this communications dish installation solution included:

1. Vehicle-mounted design for enhanced mobility and stability
2. Handheld control pendant for precise operation from a safe distance
3. Robust construction to withstand extreme cold and wind conditions
4. Sufficient cable capacity to reach the 250-foot installation height
5. Reliable performance to ensure worker safety in challenging conditions

The Columbia HD2000 hoist played a crucial role in the successful completion of this high-stakes project. Its ability to operate efficiently in extreme conditions – including wind chill temperatures of -10°F at 250 feet – allowed LS Technologies to maximize their severely limited 20-minute work intervals. The hoist’s performance was critical in safely maneuvering the 5.5-foot wide, 300-pound antenna despite the harsh environment and logistical challenges.

This project showcases APPI’s ability to provide specialized lifting solutions for complex, high-altitude installations in severe weather conditions. By selecting the right equipment and features, APPI enabled LS Technologies to overcome significant challenges, including the extreme cold, high winds, strict time limitations, and the need for heavy lifting at great heights.

For more information about this high-lift hoist system or any of APPI’s other specialized products and services for telecommunications and aviation industries, please contact Allied Power Products, Inc. With over 30 years of experience in providing custom hoisting solutions for unique and challenging applications, APPI continues to be a trusted partner in overcoming extreme engineering challenges.

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