The Borregaard factory in Sarpsborg is one of the world’s leading biorefineries. By utilizing natural, renewable raw materials, Borregaard produces advanced and environmentally friendly biochemicals that can replace oil-based products.

When a 160-meter-long chip channel used for wood chip transport needed to be replaced in October, Nordic Crane was the obvious partner for the job.

The chip channel is a crucial part of Borregaard’s infrastructure. Without it in operation, production would also come to a halt. Therefore, it was essential that the dismantling and installation of the new channel happened quickly when the replacement took place.

– It’s important that we are efficient on a project like this. The lifting operation had to be completed within one week, and with a channel that is 160 meters long, it’s clear that everything from planning to execution must be flawless, explains project manager Erik Johannessen from Nordic Crane.

– Since we couldn’t lift the entire channel in one piece, we had to set up five cranes parallel to the channel and lift it down in sections of 40–50 meters. Each section weighed approximately 40 tons.

Large Team on Site
As it wasn’t possible to assemble or weld directly on the channel, the Nordic Crane team had to come up with a functional solution. By building two lifting platforms measuring 10×4 meters, they were able to support the sections during dismantling by lifting from underneath the channel without requiring welding or bolting.

– The first phase of planning began back in January 2024. We deployed a team of 30 people and seven cranes. In addition, the specialized transport division assisted with the transportation of both the old and new channel, while the Heavy Lift division contributed with two SPMT units, Johannessen explains.

The dismantling began on October 14, and a new channel was in place by October 18.

When a crew wagon got stuck in the support wire during maintenance work on the Bømla Bridge in Sunnhordaland, Nordic Crane was contacted to rescue the wagon quickly and effectively. However, the task was complex due to several factors, but with good cooperation across departments, we overcame the challenges.

The Bømla Bridge is a suspension bridge measuring 988 meters, with a free span of 577 meters and a tower height of 105 meters. Suspension bridges along the coast are exposed to damage due to moisture and saltwater. Weather, wind, salt spray, and temperature changes quickly lead to rust and other wear problems on the bridges. To prevent this, crew wagons are attached to the wires, where they install dehumidifiers, among other things.

When one of these wagons got stuck during maintenance work, Nordic Crane was assigned the task of safely bringing it down to the ground again.

– It may sound like a simple job, but a number of factors play into a task like this, explains Jarle Søvik, Operations Manager at Nordic Crane, Haugesund Department.

– The bridge is the only way in and out of Bømlo, and although preparations and setup take time, the actual lifting window was relatively short. To minimize traffic impact, we chose to carry out the task on Sunday night between 2:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Traffic was not the only challenge. The bridge is narrow, the area is exposed to harsh weather, and there are strict tolerances for this type of construction.

– At Nordic Crane, we are fortunate to have departments that work closely together. Engineering, in particular, helped us a lot this time. Together with the customer, we came up with a solution that met all requirements.

After thorough preparations, including laying gravel as a base for support legs, measuring points, and placing timber mats, one of our 250-tonners, a Grove GMK5250XL-1, was finally able to lift down the 16-ton wagon.

Effective planning and excellent execution by our fantastic employees ensured that traffic on the bridge was up and running again in no time!

This text is translated by AI.