National Crane goes pole to pole in Texas

Tennessee, USA-based Service Electric Company, (SEC) brought in a fleet of National Crane boom trucks to install 133 miles (214 km) of high-voltage transmission lines in the Texas panhandle.

Using NBT45, NBT40 and 1400H models, the cranes were deployed lifting structural components of the poles such as pole sections, arms and insulating hardware, as well as work baskets that lift company technicians to the poles’ tops. Lifts ranged from 10,000 lbs (4.5 tonnes) to more than 27,000 lbs (12.2 tonnes).

Previously, SEC used to have technicians climb each pole and do the work by hand. Bringing in the boom trucks speeded up the process, according to Chris Forsythe, western regional manager for SEC.

The use of boom trucks for power line work also adds manoeuvrability on the job site. Setup and teardown times are greatly reduced, allowing workers to move more quickly from pole to pole. Also, additional permitting is not usually required for highway travel, saving time and money.

The Texas panhandle project began in spring and is expected to finish this winter.