Collett Transport, a UK company specialising in heavy transport, heavy lift, marine, and transport services, has successfully completed the heavy transport and installation of a 148-tonne transformer at Neilston Grid Stability Facility in Scotland, together with IQA Elecnor Group.

According to the partners, the project utilised Collett’s 250-tonne girder bridge trailer and heavy-duty jacking and skidding equipment. Working at KGV Dock in Glasgow, Collett received the project cargo, which was offloaded from the vessel onto the quayside along with ancillary boxes. Working under CPA contract lift conditions, Collett managed and oversaw all port handling operations, including vessel discharge.

Prior to transportation, Collett produced lashing plans and calculations for the transformer’s transportation and liaised with Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council, along with many of the councils’ subcontractors.

As part of the project, Collett assembled the girder frame and associated beams to build around the transformer at the quayside, completing the 16-axle configuration. Travelling in the late evening, the 60-meter-long truck and trailer configuration set off for the substation site, accompanied by a police escort and their in-house escort fleet.

Upon arriving on site, Collett transhipped the transformer from their girder bridge to a 14-axle flat-top trailer to navigate the limited site access. By increasing the girder bridge height using hydraulic suspension, the 14-row was reversed under, already loaded with a turntable.

Manoeuvring the transformer alongside the plinth, Collett’s Heavy Lift Team used hydraulic jacking and skidding equipment to transfer it onto the final plinth. Before final positioning, wheels were attached to the bottom of the transformer and accurately aligned with the rail tracks.

David Sanz Delgado, Project Manager at IQA Elecnor Group, commented, “This is a major milestone in our Neilston Grid Stability Project as part of the National Grid’s Pathfinder Programme, Phase II. The delivery of the 148-ton generator Step-up Transformer marks a significant step forward in our journey towards enhancing grid stability and reliability”.