May 22 - Fagioli has utilised its 500-ton (453.6-tonne) capacity Hydra-Slide HT500 heavy track hydraulic skidding system and other rigging equipment to remove and replace a 230,000 lb (104.3-tonne) pipe bending machine.
Texas, USA-based Cowboy's Services Inc. (CSI), a heavy haulage specialist, won the contract for the transportation of the machines and subcontracted Fagioli to execute the replacement operation.
The project involved removing the existing machine from a pit, sliding it to a loading area, loading it onto a hydraulic trailer, and repeating the operation in reverse with another pipe bender. Both systems were identical in weight and measured 18 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft (5.5 m x 3 m x 2.4 m).
According to Edoardo Ascione, president and managing director at Fagioli, winning the contract from CSI cemented the company's plans to acquire a Hydra-Slide skidding system
In addition to purchasing the HT500, Fagioli utilised four 200-ton (181.4-tonne) capacity hydraulic climbing jacks and timbers to raise the machine 6 ft (1.8 m) out of the pit, before commencing the slide, which moved the machine over 60 ft (18.3 m).
