The Alcoa Fjarðaál aluminium smelter is a primary aluminium production facility located in Reyðarfjörður, eastern Iceland. The plant chimney requires periodic maintenance and painting, presenting unique access challenges due to its height and irregular structure, including staircases and outward-projecting sections.
Project Overview
Maintaining tall industrial chimneys requires safe, reliable access and equipment that can adapt to complex structural geometries. At the Alcoa Fjarðaál aluminium smelting facility Scanclimber provided a Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) solution for chimney maintenance and painting at an installation height of 78 metres.
Fusi Ehf, the maintenance and painting contractor for the project, selected and purchased Scanclimber’s SC8000 Mast Climbing Work Platform after competing mast climber solutions were unable to meet the project’s specific requirements. Equipped with All Reach Extensions (ARE), an Assembly Arm and vertically adjustable mast ties, the system was configured to accommodate the chimney’s irregular structure and facilitate mast installation without cranes or other heavy lifting equipment on site.
The Challenge:
Chimney Access and Complex Mast Installation
The chimney’s structure presented several challenges for conventional access equipment. Staircases and outward-projecting sections interrupted the chimney’s profile, making it difficult to position the platform and install mast ties along the structure.
The installation also had to be completed manually, as no heavy vertical lifting equipment, such as cranes, was available on site.
The project required a Mast Climbing Work Platform that could:
- Provide access around staircases and outward-projecting chimney sections.
- Accommodate the chimney’s irregular geometry.
- Simplify mast tie installation at different structural positions.
- Enable mast assembly without heavy lifting equipment.
These requirements called for a flexible Mast Climber configuration supported by carefully selected optional equipment and add-ons.
The Solution:
SC8000 Mast Climbing Work Platform with All Reach Extensions
Scanclimber supplied the SC8000 Mast Climbing Work Platform with All Reach Extensions, an Assembly Arm and vertically adjustable mast ties to meet the project’s specific access and installation requirements.
The SC8000 provided the working platform for maintenance and painting at a height of 78 metres. Its configuration was adapted to address the obstacles presented by the chimney’s staircases and projecting sections.
All Reach Extensions for Irregular Chimney Structures
The All-Reach Extensions (ARE) enabled the platform configuration to accommodate changes in the chimney’s profile. By extending the platform’s reach where required, they helped address access challenges around staircases and outward-projecting sections.
All-Reach Extensions extend outside from the platform edge up to 5.5 meters and are capable of slewing +/- 45 degrees.
ARE extensions demonstrated how the right Mast Climber configuration can support demanding industrial maintenance applications where the structure does not offer a uniform working surface.
Assembly Arm for Mast Installation Without Cranes
With no cranes or other heavy lifting equipment available on site, mast assembly presented a significant logistical challenge.
The Assembly Arm, one of the available Mast Climber optional equipment solutions, facilitated mast installation without the need for heavy lifting equipment. This helped the installation team address the site’s practical limitations and assemble the system for the required working height.
Vertically Adjustable Mast Ties for Complex Geometry
The chimney’s irregular structure made it difficult to install mast ties at conventional positions. Vertically adjustable mast ties simplified the installation process by allowing the tie positions to be adapted to the chimney’s varying geometry.
Scanclimber mast climber, equipped with optional extensions and add-ons, provided an efficient solution to meet the project’s specific access, structural and installation requirements.
Key Benefits
The SC8000 Mast Climbing Work Platform provided an access solution for the chimney maintenance project, combining adaptable reach with installation equipment suited to the site’s constraints.
Key benefits included:
- Adaptable access: All Reach Extensions helped accommodate the chimney’s staircases and outward-projecting sections.
- Simplified installation: The Assembly Arm facilitated mast assembly without cranes or other heavy lifting equipment on site.
- Flexible mast tie positioning: Vertically adjustable mast ties helped overcome difficulties caused by the chimney’s irregular geometry.
- Access at 78 metres: The SC8000 configuration supported the chimney maintenance and painting application.
- Project-specific support: Technical preparation, installation support and hands-on user training helped Fusi Ehf prepare for equipment operation.
The project illustrates the value of selecting suitable Mast Climber optional equipment to address the real-world challenges of industrial maintenance. Rather than relying on a standard configuration, Scanclimber matched the equipment to the chimney’s structure and the installation conditions.
Project Facts
- Customer: Fusi Ehf, Iceland
- Project site: Alcoa Fjarðaál Aluminum Smelter, Reyðarfjörður, eastern Iceland
- Application: Industrial chimney maintenance and painting
- Installation height: 78 metres
- Mast Climbing Work Platform: Scanclimber SC8000
- Optional equipment: All Reach Extensions (ARE) and Assembly Arm
- Additional installation feature: Vertically adjustable mast ties
Why Scanclimber
Scanclimber delivers tailored Mast Climbing Work Platform solutions for complex access challenges where standard equipment may fall short. The Alcoa Fjarðaál chimney project demonstrates how the SC8000, combined with All Reach Extensions, an Assembly Arm and vertically adjustable mast ties, provided a solution suited to the chimney’s irregular structure and installation constraints.
By combining versatile Mast Climbers with the right optional equipment and Climber add-ons, Scanclimber helps contractors address demanding maintenance, painting and refurbishment projects at height. From technical planning and equipment configuration to installation support and hands-on user training, Scanclimber works closely with customers to identify practical solutions that meet their project requirements.
Looking for a Mast Climbing Work Platform for a complex industrial structure?
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