Hydraulic lifting frames have a long tradition at SCHOLPP. The large lifting height with low overall height, maximum flexibility and intelligent control systems make hydraulic lifting frames particularly attractive for use in industrial assembly.

The law of leverage has played a decisive role in the history of mankind. From the pyramids of Ancient Egypt to the temples of antiquity, blocks of stone were heaved upwards thousands of years ago to erect colossal buildings. Over the course of time, lifting technology has been continuously optimised – e.g. by inventors such as Archimedes. Or the inventors at SCHOLPP, where hydraulic lifting frames were used for the first time in 1987, which initially had a load capacity of 150 tonnes and could be extended up to 9 metres. Over the years, their functions became more and more sophisticated and hydraulic lifting frames were used in more and more applications.

From the U to the lift

Klaus Engel has been with SCHOLPP in Dietzenbach for over 26 years and has already completed countless jobs with hydraulic lifting frames in these almost three decades. The current authorised signatory can look back on all kinds of experiences. In his early days, plug-in scaffolding was still regularly used. ‘This allowed us to slowly lift machines and systems weighing 500 tonnes into the air, but not to move them forwards or backwards,’ says Klaus Engel, looking back.

At least five employees were needed to operate the U-shaped scaffolding. The lack of flexibility of the plug-in scaffolding ultimately meant that hydraulic lifting scaffolding became a better alternative for the new assembly situations. ‘These lifting frames made it much easier for us to avoid set-up times and production downtime for our customers,’ says the experienced project manager, explaining the change.

Downtime means a step backwards

The first hydraulic lifting frames were much less versatile than current models. However, this has changed fundamentally as tasks have become more demanding. To meet different requirements, SCHOLPP works with experienced manufacturers and has customised special solutions for transport and assembly produced – exactly what the experts at SCHOLPP need for their orders. ‘It is particularly important that hydraulic lifting frames remain small and compact for the load case in halls,’ explains Klaus Engel.

In the beginning, SCHOLPP mainly used hydraulic lifting frames in heavy industry and for presses in the automotive industry, but later they were also used to lift heavy boilers and drum furnaces. SCHOLPP utilised the experience gained from each order to further develop the hydraulic lifting frames in a targeted manner – with the result that they were used across all industries without any major problems.

Whether and which hydraulic lifting frames are used always depends on the respective load case – this varies enormously between the individual sectors. Hydraulic lifting frames and other conventional methods reach their limits when constructing large railway bridges or raising an overturned ship such as the Costa Concordia. In such cases, strand jacks with steel cables are preferred. With this hydraulic device, the required forces are transferred from the piston to the load to be lifted via strands. ‘The force required for such projects is enormous and often only strand jacks are able to lift such heavy weights safely,’ says Klaus Engel.

Task determines degree of difficulty

The combination of lifting capacity and height makes the use of hydraulic lifting frames particularly attractive in halls. But be careful: The higher a machine or system is lifted, the more the lifting capacity decreases. ‘At the beginning it’s 1,000 tonnes, but after three stages it’s only 540 tonnes,’ says Klaus Engel, describing this “loss of power”. However, these tonnages are perfectly adequate for SCHOLPP orders because the challenge is often not lifting the load, but rather the space and height conditions in the hall. Depending on the type of lifting frame and other equipment such as rails or beams, the assembly time takes between two hours and three days. ‘The task always determines the degree of difficulty,’ says Klaus Engel.

Hydraulic lifting frames have therefore established themselves as a real alternative – compared to a mobile crane, for example. In addition to the flexibility and variability, the adjustable track widths and the axle equalisation of the chassis in particular guarantee an even and safe load application.

Occupational safety has been significantly increased by measuring devices that display all relevant values and prevent slanted positions in advance. All safety-relevant movements are closely monitored by an electronic control system. Only experienced fitters control the hydraulic lifting frame by remote control – in all directions. This means that a system can be moved forward up to 80 metres along rails ‘The variety of functions is a major step forward,’ explains Engel, adding: ‘We will continue to push this in the future.’

SCHOLPP currently has 14 different hydraulic masts in its equipment pool, most of them at German sites. However, there are also four in Spain and one each in Shanghai and Malaysia. ‘We attach great importance to using our own equipment,’ explains Klaus Engel. In the past, this has resulted in hydraulic lifting frames being transported to Russia, Iran, South Africa and Brazil. If parallel enquiries arise, SCHOLPP compares the respective requirements on site and then decides which hydraulic lifting frame is to be used where. In individual cases, scaffolding can also be transported directly to the next construction site after use.

Regular inspections, annual MOT

However, this is the exception rather than the rule, as the equipment normally returns directly to the site once the job has been completed. There it undergoes a check-up. The information provided by the site manager is checked and the scaffolding is thoroughly tested. Individual commissioning takes place before each construction site assignment so that the scaffolding can be tested precisely in advance and any faults or defects rectified. ‘We can do a lot ourselves, such as topping up the oil, but – just like with a car – we can’t do everything,’ admits Klaus Engel. However, major repairs are almost never necessary. The reason for this is the annual TÜV inspection, which is carried out by an external expert and guarantees high safety standards – from which SCHOLPP’s customers also benefit.

Whether complete relocation or partial assembly – there is almost no requirement that cannot be met with SCHOLPP lifting frames. This is mainly because the modular principle of the lifting frames makes it possible to realise a wide variety of assembly solutions. This allows SCHOLPP to optimally adapt the lifting frames to the respective space situation – and will therefore continue to position machines and systems with millimetre precision in Germany, Europe, and the world in the coming decades in accordance with the principles of Archimedes.

You can find out more about SCHOLPP lifting technology in our articles on wire rope gantries at Cable Gantries: Modular Powerhouses or in our article on aluminium gantries at Aluminium Gantries: Movement Between Floors.