13.08.2015

Tracked booms for Antarctica

UK based AJ Access Platforms has modified two 60ft Genie booms for work in Antarctica.

AJ Access carried out the conversions after selling the two Genie Z60/34 articulating booms to the British Antarctic Survey for work on the Halley V1 Research Station, located in one of the most hostile environments on earth with average winter temperatures below -20°C with extreme lows of around -56°C, while wind speeds regularly exceed 100mph. In spite of this the machines will remain outside all the time, so proper preparation is critical.

The conversions and preparation included swapping the wheels for snow tracks, installing special biodegradable hydraulic oils and batteries for cold weather starting, and working with British Antarctic Survey engineers to incorporate pre-heating technology. The booms will run on aviation fuel because diesel freezes in such temperatures.

The machines are due to set sail for the Antarctic on the research ship RRS Ernest Shackleton in October and should arrive around Christmas Day.
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The two booms are ready to ship

Ben Norrish, vehicles and plant manager for the British Antarctic Survey, said: “We need reliable machines that are in good condition because we can only take a limited supply of parts with us and it would be very expensive if we had to have other parts flown out. AJ Access Platforms have supplied boom lifts to us in the past and have a good understanding of our requirements.”

The research facility is made up of eight modules, each sitting on hydraulic levelling jacks fitted with large skis. When the modules are in place the skis sit on special 1.2 x 1.0 metre - 40mm thick outrigger mats supplied by UK based Outriggerpads - but more on these in a future outrigger mat article/feature.

The central module contains the communal areas for dining, relaxation etc, while the other modules provide accommodation, laboratories, offices, generators, an observation platform and many other facilities.
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The Halley VI Research Station sits on UHMW polyethylene outrigger mats that UK based Outriggerpads supply for use with cranes and large platforms