Spider’s 360° Blade Access Platform is customized to capture the massive blades on wind turbines such as the 300-ft tall Nordex N117 or Vestas V112 and V117.

Spider, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, recently provided the largest Blade Access Platform (BAP) to date for Akuo Energy Uruguay. Akuo Energy is France’s leading independent producer of renewable energy and has subsidiaries in 10 countries, including Uruguay, their gateway to the Latin American region.

With two wind farms currently in operation (Parque Eólico Minas and Parque Eólico Florida I), and a third under construction (Parque Eólico Florida II), Akuo Energy’s installed capacity in Uruguay will be 141.5 MW.

Given the climatic conditions in Uruguay, blade maintenance is critical during the operation stage, which led to Akuo Energy’s development of inspection, repair, and preventive-maintenance services for this region. After thorough analysis, they decided upon Spider’s 360° Blade Access Platform, customized to capture the massive blades on its 300-ft tall Nordex N117 and Vestas V112 and V117 wind turbines.

Spider’s expert team of engineers designed a 500-lb capacity, 15 ft by 7 ft 360° BAP, powered by four 1,500-lb traction hoists. The custom dimensions of the platform enabled technicians to capture the lower blades and pass the max chords. This modular equipment was easily transported by a standard trailer and swiftly assembled on site, minimizing costs and installation time.

Spider also provided a custom-engineered rigging solution, initial rigging services, and on-site supervision to ensure the first project progressed safely and productively. Additionally, Spider conducted a Competent Person Training course to enable the crew to perform the rigging on future endeavors at the Uruguay wind farm.

Spider conducted a training course to ensure the crew of wind techs could safely and accurately perform the rigging on future operations at the Uruguay wind farm.

“Superb technical support, good practice, common sense, and fast decision processes were paramount in achieving our goal of purchasing a wind turbine access solution,” commented Ing. Andrea Piñon, Asset Manager, South America. “Throughout the entire process we had a great relationship with Spider and very good responses from their team. They succeeded in designing our platform, one of the biggest in existence, and enabling access to 100% of the larger blades installed in Uruguay.”

Spider’s custom solution was designed, manufactured, and delivered in just four months, with the initial blade capture commencing in January 2016.

“True to form, Spider has risen to yet another challenge and exceeded expectations,” added David Beckett, VP and General Manager of Spider Operations. “Together, our team designed, manufactured, and delivered the largest BAP to date – from Spider or any other manufacturer. While we take pride in that accomplishment, we remain focused on continually providing our customers with the safest, most reliable solutions for their unique access projects.”

Spider
www.spiderstaging.com

Akuo Energy
www.akuoenergy.com

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The customer, Alstom, required access to the blades of its massive 3 MW prototype turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Boulder, CO to conduct R&D on a new power performance improvement package. The scope of work required the platform to pass the max chord on the blades and have access to the blades’ root.

In less than four weeks, Spider designed, manufactured and delivered the custom 15 ft x 10 ft BAP, its largest to date, to Alstom.

Additionally, Spider technicians surveyed the turbine to develop a rigging plan that allowed the use of a four hoist platform by routing the rigging slings over the blades in a bunny ear position. With Spider on site daily to handle the rigging needs and provide immediate support throughout the 3-week project, Alstom’s blade technicians were able to focus on their scope of work.

“In addition to providing a stable and safe working platform, Spider’s management of design, construction, rigging, and on-site support allowed us to complete our project without any issues,” said Jon Campbell, innovation program manager with Alstom.

Learn more about Spider’s BAP and other wind turbine access solutions at AWEA Windpower 2014,
booth #2771, May 5 to 8.

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The 360° BAPs, from Spider, a division of SafeWorks LLC, provides safe, reliable and productive blade repair access for several turbines near Saint-Ulric and access to install experimental new anti-icing technology on two 2.05 MW MM92 turbines for Wind Energy TechnoCentre.

A manufacturer of suspended access platforms has provided two 360° platforms (BAPs) to Suspendem Rope Access Inc. so its crews can conduct blade repairs and de-icing jobs on GE and REpower turbines at two different sites in Quebec, Canada.

The 360° BAPs, from Spider, a division of SafeWorks LLC, provides safe, reliable and productive blade repair access for several turbines near Saint-Ulric and access to install experimental new anti-icing technology on two 2.05 MW MM92 turbines for Wind Energy TechnoCentre. “With Spider’s universal 360° BAPs, we get a crew of three on the platform at the same time to do the larger repair work and the installation of anti-icing equipment on the blades,” says Bill Talbot, Director of Business Operations at Suspendem.

“The modularity of the 360° BAP solved the mobilization challenges posed by the remote locations,” says Clint Ramberg, Spider’s Wind Access Director. “Because the 360° BAP breaks into convenient pickup-truck loads and then quickly reassembles to engage the blade, we saved Suspendem significant on-site time. Spider has experience in providing tower and blade access to 70% of the all wind turbines. To support Suspendem we provided an approved rigging plan and a stable, and provincial-compliant equipment that easily customizes for future blade and tower access projects.”

“Spider makes it easy, with the onsite installation support, rigging expertise and simple training. We were able to get the job done on time more effectively and efficiently,” says Talbot. To view the 360° blade access product animation click here: http://www.spiderstaging.com/wind/360BladeAccess.aspx

Spider
www.spider.com

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