Parkburn Attends MacGregor’s Launch of the FibreTrac 1500 in Norway Featuring Deep Water Capstan
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Parkburn Precision Handling Systems Limited
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Parkburn Precision Handling Systems Limited
26 February 2019
Parkburn Precision Handling Systems, a specialist UK engineering company which provides onshore and offshore handling systems, attended MacGregor’s launch of the FibreTrac 1500 crane in Norway on the 13th and 14th of February.The demonstration follows on from extensive testing carried out since October. The FibreTrac Crane and it’s technology are approved by DNV.GL under DNV GL's ST-0378 ‘Standard for offshore and platform lifting appliances’, and is in the final stages of completing the newly developed ST-E407 ‘Rope based deployment and recovery systems for designated service.’
The result, the first of its kind 150te active heave compensated offshore MacGregor crane equipped with Parkburn’s Deep Water Capstan, LankoDeep® Lankhorst Rope made with Dyneema® DM20 XBO and an Applied Fiber end-termination together with a 3D Measuring System for continuous rope monitoring from VisionTek.
The event was a major milestone for the Deep Water Capstan (DWC). The first full size unit DWC built was a 75-tonne demonstration unit in 2012, followed by over three years of testing many rope and configurations to prove the machine handled properly.
In order to commercialise the technology, Parkburn recognised the need to build strong partnerships. MacGregor also recognised the potential of fibre rope cranes and after an in-depth evaluation of the Capstan technology the decision was made to use the Parkburn Deep Water Capstan as the heart for their new series of FibreTrac cranes.
Sam Bull commented on the occasion: "This would have not been possible if it were not for the efforts and dedication of many within our small company including the directors who have continued to invest in this technology through good times and bad.”
Over 40 potential customers including ship owners and contractors were in attendance. In a comment by Hřyesen, CEO of MacGregor Norway: "We have received a lot of positive feedback today. Several of our customers are considering fiber rope cranes. I am sure some of them will buy one”.
On a final note, Director of Parkburn Andy Lawson comments: "We firmly believe in the market progression towards ultra deep water and the DWC is the first step in having a range of product solutions for all requirements of this sector.”
