A company that focuses on wind turbine blade and tower inspections, maintenance and repair has purchased its third Bronto Skylift Model S-90 HLA truck-mounted aerial in less than 18 months. According to TGM Wind Services VP Kevin Darby, the company is ready to order two additional machines for delivery in mid-2011.
The Bronto S 90 HLA machines can lift up to 1,000-pounds (454kg) of men and materials in an 8 x 3-ft, fully enclosed platform to a 295-foot (90m) maximum working height. Maximum horizontal outreach is 108-feet (33m) and when fully elevated, they can withstand winds speeds up to 28 mph (12.5 m/s) so they can be safely used on most turbines currently operating in North America as well as access overhead areas on high rise buildings. Mounted on a 6-axle Kimball chassis, TGM’s Bronto S-90 HLA machines can navigate most terrain and easily reach remote tower locations or negotiate jobsite obstacles.
From the time a Bronto aerial drives onto a site, it can be positioned, set-up and elevated to the overhead area in 15 to 20 min. or less, thanks to advanced controls and one-button automatic outrigger leveling. When used on wind farms with multiple turbines, this can save considerable time and money in transportation and set-up costs compared to other methods of reaching towers, plus it results in faster, safer, and more accurate inspection and maintenance of turbine exteriors and blades.
The Bronto S 90 HLA machines are equipped with electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and water lines running inside the telescoping boom from the ground to the platform so technicians can operate powered tools and washers in the platform. This saves time and is much safer because it eliminates having lines or hoses running down from the overhead platform to ground.
TGM Wind Services
www.tgmwind.com
Bronto Skylift
www.bronto.us
Filed Under: Blades, News, O&M