As coal-fired power stations across the UK strive to meet ever-tighter efficiency and environmental standards, Rotrex Winches is experiencing increased demand for services. Recently, Rotrex Winches has had a hydraulic ZW17 17t SWL base-mounted winch hired by on-site engineering contractors at a major generating station, along with a power pack and control stand.
The contractor has a four-year contract to replace four boiler units at this power station as part of an ongoing efficiency improvement and maintenance programme. The company has a permanent office and workshop within the grounds of the station and carries out various projects each year. It has been using equipment hired from Rotrex to raise and lower various large parts from one of the old boilers so they can be removed and installed from inside one of the buildings.
Working 24 hours a day, this project can take around six to eight weeks to remove and replace one complete boiler, along with miles of pipe work, valves and various other units. The project is now complete for this calendar year and the station is back to running on all four boilers again for the winter period when the power demand is high.
The contractor was very pleased with the winch and also with the Rotrex engineers who attended the site to set up and commission the equipment. The company has already given us some dates to re-hire the equipment for stage two of the maintenance.