Modulift delivers custom 25t lifting frames for High Speed 2 

Modulift have designed, manufactured and delivered two custom lifting frames for the High Speed 2 (HS2) project in just six weeks.  

Their team of engineers were asked to provide a bespoke lifting solution that would lift high speed railcar panels in two separate locations. The first lifting frame is being used at Southampton Docks and the second is at DB Schenkers Immingham warehouse facility, where a low height solution was required. 

Each was designed with a span of 19m by 3m and a lifting capacity of 25t.  Four top lifting lugs were included to enable both lifting frames to be used at a standard lift height.  The second custom lifting frame has four additional lugs, enabling the slings to be attached at a closer point from the centre of the lifting frame for the low height specification. This offers both low height and standard height lifting solutions, so can be used inside and outside the warehouse facility as required. 

Modular in design, the frames were manufactured in three sections, facilitating ease of transportation, a design feature Modulift are well known for across their lifting solutions. Cross beams on the frames are bolted on site to add strength and stability. 

Modulift’s senior project engineer, Matt Roberts, was on site to oversee the first of the two custom lifting frames being put together for the first lift in Southampton, where there was a team of eight stevedores, four on the ship and four on the quay.  

The infrastructure project, currently the largest in Europe, will provide faster rail links, between the north, across the midlands and to London, with trains reaching speeds of up to 250mph. The Dept of Transport forecast that there will be 2000 apprenticeships and 25,000 people employed across the project, which has an estimated budget of £106 billion.

Ben Cunnington, global projects and industry solutions manager at DB Schenker says, “Modulift’s global reputation and previous experience with many of our global customers and projects was the reason we chose to work with them on this project. Knowing that their expertise is all under one roof, meant we didn’t have to manage multiple points of contact as they took care of everything, right through to delivery”.

“Working with Modulift to design and manufacture these specialised lifting frames was seamless from the outset. We had clear and regular discussions to determine the best options for the frames, and the design work was second to none. All of which we achieved from start to finish during the height of the global Covid-19 pandemic. We wish all companies were as easy to deal with as Modulift”.

Harshal Kulkarni, engineer manager at Modulift says, “One of the lifting frames had a unique design due to its low height application.  The slings were specially designed for a low headroom requirement. The slings are normally used at standard base angles of 0-45 deg. In this case the slings were designed for base angles of 30-60 deg. Hence, requiring a special design and set of calculations.  The lifting lugs were also specially designed for added compression due to acute base sling angles”.