UK-based heavy transport specialist Collett & Sons has delivered and installed three transformers at the New Cumnock Substation in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Working alongside transformer manufacturer Kolektor, the project began at Associated British Ports’ (ABP) port of Ayr in 2023, where Collett assisted with the unloading of the three transformers directly from a vessel.
Two of the transformers, both measuring 9.58 m x 3.74 m x 4.23 m and weighing 170 tonnes, and the third, measuring 9.58 m x 3.68 m x 4.1 m and weighing 121 tonnes, were placed onto modular flat-top trailers and shunted into a secure storage area within the port. The offloading process took place over two days and utilised Collett’s jacking and skidding system, ensuring safe and efficient handling with minimal port disruption.
As per the delivery schedule, Collett recently returned to the storage area and built its 550-tonne capacity Scheuerle girder bridge trailer around the first transformer, which removed the need for a mobile crane. The transformers then sequentially embarked on a 33-mile (53.1-km) journey to a transhipment site located on the North Kyle wind farm. Once there, each transformer was transferred onto a modular 14-axle flat-top trailer using Collett’s hydraulic skidding system.
The first transformer installation involved a 28 m skid with rotation, whilst the second and third were installed using single-direction skids.
Collett also provided end-to-end support for Kolektor by transporting ancillary components from Slovenia to the site in Scotland. It also contracted in a mobile crane supplier under CPA Contract Lift conditions to offload and position the ancillaries.
‘‘Incredibly proud of the team for successfully delivering a complex project under some truly challenging conditions. Just weeks before the move, a landslip occurred on the A713 which was the planned and approved route for this project,” said Will Towne, senior project manager at Collett. “The professionalism, adaptability and commitment shown by everyone involved was outstanding.”
Earlier this month, HLPFI reported that Collett had delivered 441 wind turbine components to the North Kyle wind farm in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
