Lifting Design

CDMS Engineering have an extensive history of providing design services for lifting devices, lifted equipment, lifting studies, and crane and winch design. Working to an International Quality Management Standard (ISO 9001-2015) we are able to offer our services to the highest level of quality control that is second to none. All engineering designs are delivered with high regard for Australian Standards and meeting compliance requirements.

Lifting Devices

CDMS has had a large portfolio of work in the lifting devices sector. CDMS has designed, verified and provided detail drawings for countless spreader beams, lifting cruciforms and specialised structures for lifting. We have worked on both onshore, offshore and sub-sea environments all of which have a range of differing requirements that must be adhered to.

The applications of lifting devices are vast. Lifting devices can be used in a variety of locations for a multitude of tasks. Lifting devices can be used to bring specialised equipment onto an offshore platform, to retrieve items off the bottom of the ocean, to help with deconstruction of decommissioned plant, or to install heavy equipment that cannot be lifted by any other means.

CDMS can design to offshore design codes DNV 2.7-1, EN 12079, onshore codes such as AS 4991 and various site specific specifications, such as those written by Woodside, Chevron and Apache. CDMS has in-house software that we have developed over a number of years as well as FEA capabilities and traditional structural modelling to ensure that we can design your lifting device quickly and efficiently.

The CDMS design process starts with an analysis of the centre of gravity and then ensuring the lifting device is suitable for the lift, this includes analysing the number of lifting points. The next step is to ensure the frame is structurally sound for the loads when combined with relevant dynamic amplification factors that are required by the code. Finally we size the lifting lugs and select the appropriate slings, links and shackles based on the load and the angles involved.

Examples of our previous work include the design of a sub-sea garage used to store testing equipment as it is lifted in and out of the ocean, which involved analysing splash zones and wave motions. The design of custom cruciforms to lift in-situ tanks for repair and spreader beams used to lift modified shipping containers. The use of the lifting beam saves money by not requiring the proprietary lifting frame which is used at wharfs.

Lifted Equipment

The CDMS team has completed hundreds of projects for the design, layout, detailing and verification of lifted equipment such as offshore lifting frames, containers, tanks, transformers, skids, bins, reinforced concrete footings and baskets, according to AS 4991, DNV 2.7-1, DNV 2.7-3, EN12079 and various site specific specifications.

CDMS can help you with a range of different lifts, from a single point lift to a more complicated multi-stage spreader beam configuration. We check both the lugs and the internal structure of the lifted frame to ensure that your plant is lifted safely.

An example of common lifted equipment is a modified sea container. CDMS can retrofit an existing container so that it may be lifted using only a single point; eliminating the need of an additional lifting device. This is done by reinforcing existing pressings and introducing additional beams and columns for additional strength.

CDMS has a long history working with construction contractors and are able to provide lifting studies and on-site support for lifting and equipment installation activities. CDMS is able to offer provide, cost effective and quality solutions. Recently designs and design verifications have been executed for companies such as Woodside, Link Weld Engineering, Noble & Son, United KG, Alcoa and Hatch.

Crane & Winch Design

CDMS has structural engineers who are experienced in a variety of crane and winch designs from sizing, to stress analysis and detailed design.  We have experience with most crane and winch configurations, such as jib cranes, monorails, crabbing systems and winches, for use in both onshore and offshore applications.

CDMS undertakes design and calculations of cranes and winches in compliance with Australian Standards series AS 1418. Additionally we have the in-house capability to design and shop detail the cranes and winches that we design. We can design winch components such as breaks, the winch drum (along with weldment procedures) and the shaft, spooling devices. We also have experience with AS1418.17 and the design of manned work boxes.

Our company has a wealth of experience with the fabrication, and installation of cranes and can provide relevant calculations and methodology documents as required. CDMS also provides third party verification of cranes for WorkSafe registration, and re-rating of in-situ cranes are also part of the services that we can provide.

Previous examples of work include the design of an umbilical winches designed to provide services for subsea modules used offshore, as well as the re-rating of existing jib cranes to increase the SWL by performing finite element analysis on the crane’s critically loaded locations.

Lifting Studies

Building upon our lifting devices capabilities CDMS has performed a number of lifting studies in recent years. These are often high risk installations that are often not considered until later into the project when access has been reduced. CDMS can examine your plant to ensure its installation is safe and practical

Lifting studies involve examining the lifted item and determining the installation sequence CDMS can then determine the at risk positions and ensure the structure is adequate for the procedure. CDMS has experience installing single piece tank roofs, installing horizontally transported vessels in vertical operating positions and prefabricated modules built overseas and installed in Australia.

CDMS uses a combination of structural design software, in-house programs and finite element analysis to ensure that the loads applied to the structure are kept within allowable limits by using a number of specific lifting devices such as, trunnions, spreader beams and tailing lugs.