General Mechanical

The project was to install a new processing pit measuring 40 feet long by 20 feet wide by 22 feet deep along with the associated structure and controls in the middle of a facility that processes molten metal into castings all while the facility continued to be fully operational. Also included was the structural upgrade of the runways of two overhead bridge cranes and their replacement with 40-ton and 75-ton cranes.

The complexity of project was due not only to the physical location in the facility but the location in a working facility. A 22-foot deep hole was excavated in the middle of an operating facility. All business had to keep running and there was a burning vessel that stayed in full operation immediately adjacent to the construction. Both the construction and normal facility operations had to use the same overhead crane while both moving ahead at full speed.

The drilling operation, excavation of the pit, and placement of the concrete were the most difficult aspects of the project. Following the concrete, the structural steel superstructure was erected and a two story control building was constructed. GM assembled the equipment and gas piping manifolds including five different gases. To replace the cranes, the roof was opened up, the existing crane removed, the new installed, and the roof replaced. All was done within three days by working around the clock.