Petrochemical Shutdown Lifting Equipment Hire
A turnaround is a scheduling problem before it is a lifting problem. The window is fixed, the critical path runs through a handful of heavy removals, and every hour the unit is down has a number attached to it. What you need from a hire partner is the right equipment on site when the scaffold comes down, certified and ready, not a fortnight later.
LGH hires lifting, jacking and rigging equipment for petrochemical, refinery and pharmaceutical shutdowns from five UK locations, with 24 hour emergency response when a scope change lands mid-turnaround.
The lifts a turnaround actually involves
Heat exchanger bundle extraction and reinstatement. Column and vessel internals. Valve, pump and compressor removals. Catalyst handling. Pipe spool changes in congested racks. The common thread is that almost none of it happens in open space, and much of it happens where a conventional electric hoist is not the right tool.
What we hire for it
- JDN PROFI pneumatic air chain hoists, 0.25t to 100t. Air driven rather than electric, with no motor, windings or electrical controls. An air motor also runs continuously at full duty where an electric hoist needs a rest cycle, which matters across a long shift, and variable speed control on the pendant gives the fine positioning that bundle work demands. Ultra-low monorail hoists are available where headroom under the beam is tight.
- Hi-Force hydraulic cylinders in low height, high tonnage, hollow piston and locknut configurations, for controlled load transfer, alignment and jacking in restricted openings.
- Modulift spreader beams and frames, 6t to 1,500t, which break down into sections for access through a congested plant and rebuild to the span the lift requires.
- Digital load links and compressive load cells, for verifying the weight of an item with no reliable drawing weight and for watching load distribution across multiple points during a lift.
Certification and compliance
Every item is tested, inspected and supplied with current certification, so it arrives ready to be written into your lift plan. LGH also provides LOLER and PUWER inspection, testing and thorough examination and general lifting arrangement drawings.
Plan the hire with the outage
Talk to us during turnaround planning rather than in the week before. Long lead configurations, non-standard heights of lift and multi-point jacking arrangements all benefit from being specified early, and it lets us hold stock against your window.
Call the hire desk on 03704 247 247, email enquiries@lgh.co.uk or request a quote.
Shutdown and turnaround lifting: common questions
Why are air hoists used on petrochemical shutdowns rather than electric?
Three reasons. A hoisting/air-chain-hoists">pneumatic hoist has no motor, windings or electrical controls. An air motor runs continuously at full duty where an electric hoist needs a rest cycle, which matters across a long shift. And variable speed control on the pendant gives finer positioning than an electric hoist, which is what bundle and internals work needs.
How far ahead should shutdown lifting equipment be booked?
During turnaround planning, not in the week before. Standard stock is available for next working day delivery when you order before 2pm, but non-standard heights of lift, long span beam configurations and multi-point jacking arrangements all benefit from early specification, and booking ahead lets LGH hold stock against your outage window.
What equipment is used for heat exchanger bundle extraction?
The arrangement varies with the bundle weight, the elevation and the access, but it commonly involves air chain hoists for controlled pulling and lowering, spreader beams to control the geometry, and load monitoring to confirm the bundle weight against the drawing. Send LGH the bundle details and the access constraints and our team will specify the assembly.
Can LGH respond to a scope change mid-turnaround?
Yes. LGH operates a 24 hour emergency response service, and stock is held across five UK locations. If a lift changes scope once the unit is open, call the hire desk on 03704 247 247.
Does hired equipment come with certification for the lift plan?
Yes. Every item is tested, inspected and supplied with current certification, and the documentation arrives with the equipment. If you need certificates in advance to complete a lift plan or a permit application, ask the hire desk when you place the order.
What air supply do pneumatic hoists need on site?
A clean, regulated supply at the correct volume and pressure, plus a maintenance unit, which is required. An undersized compressor is the most common cause of poor lifting speed on site. Give the hire desk your compressor specification when you enquire and LGH will confirm it is adequate before the hoist ships.
