Durham Lifting has completed the manufacture and delivery of a 150t safe working load tunnel boring machine lifting beam, intended for use in a submerged and confined operational environment.
The 14m beam is designed to connect to the tunnel boring machine through multiple dropper assemblies, requiring specific alignment and consistent load transfer.
Durham Lifting collaborated directly with the client’s engineering team throughout all project stages, including structural calculations, engineering guidance, fabrication, and testing, before delivering the beam.
The company carried out a static proof load test at Britannia Test House, applying a controlled load of 174t.
During this process, it designed a test configuration to simulate the loading conditions across all 22 lower connection points simultaneously.
By providing both engineering and testing services within its Middlesbrough facility, Durham Lifting managed the lifting project from initial planning through to completion.
Established in 1996, Durham Lifting operates from the Britannia Test House, which was originally built for heavy steel testing on projects such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The facility remains active as a large-scale test centre in the UK, offering both tensile and compression tests up to 3,000t.
The company’s services cover the engineering, sales and hire of lifting equipment, as well as inspections under LOLER regulations, repair work, refurbishment, crane maintenance, and specialist wire rope tests.
Durham Lifting undertakes projects for sectors including civil engineering, offshore, and structural industries.
In April, Durham Lifting moved a jib crane for a customer, repositioning the equipment within the client’s premises to align with operational needs.
