The Keith Rhodes team have recently returned to a familiar job, which required disciplined teamwork and attentive planning, alongside the assistance of two specialist sub-contractors. When a 66-ton lathe was required to be moved from one site in Rotherham to another, the Keith Rhodes team were tasked with the job. Despite the lathe only moving a mile down the road, the planning, execution, kit, and assistance that were required, were vast.
Prior to the move, due to the scale of the lathe and access required, current machines within the site needed to be temporarily relocated by our skilled engineers, Edd, Carl, Ashley, and Mark. With the support of the DMG engineers, smaller components of the lathe were removed and loaded onto the KR Faymonville trailer and our DafXF and transported to AML. Anchor bolts were removed from the main machine, and the lathe was carefully jacked up onto transporter skates ready to be moved through the AMRC facility. This was completed with precision and excellent teamwork and demonstrated that good, efficient communication is key.
Due to the size and weight of the lathe, a 160-ton Mega-Lift system (supplied by Projector Lifting), was assembled and used to lift and load the machine onto a specialist self-propelled trailer (supplied by Collett & Sons Ltd).
This was then secured and safely transported with an abnormal load escort to AML. At its new site, the lathe was offloaded and skated into position. The lathe required core drilling to the floor by the KR engineers, positioning over the bolts and grouting when in its final position. The team from Keith Rhodes then assisted with the reassembly of the machine. The lathe, within its new home, can now begin manufacturing again, helping to keep the cogs of the aerospace industry wheels turning!
Collaboration with sub-contractors within the industry is crucial to a successful move and Keith Rhodes pride themselves on their professional relationships with all companies within the industry. Keith Rhodes Machinery Installations Ltd would like to say a huge thank you to the engineering team and all staff that were involved with the move. Everyone worked effectively towards achieving a shared goal with a positive, calm, and focused attitude.
