39 / 44
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
FEBRUARY 2015
37
the size of the equipment required and the
proximity of the sites to a port where the
enormous machinery would be shipped and
landed.
Transport to site was the next step in the
chain and with ALE’s South Africa branch
having been active in the Heavy Transport
and Lifting Services market since 2001, the
contract was awarded to them for the trans-
port of the heavy components for Bokpoort,
Ki Solar One and KaXu Solar One.
ALE has the necessary project management
and technical skills to offer their clients a
comprehensive turnkey operation includ-
ing shipping, barging, craneage, transport,
on-site handling and installation. Their in-
vestment in the right equipment to perform
every aspect of any operation is enormous.
ALE has the philosophy to work closely with
their clients, to understand their particular
needs and evaluate each job carefully, pro-
pose the optimum technical and commer-
cial solution and perform each contracted
task safely and efficiently.
ALE’s involvement in the CSP project was
the transport of all the heavy components
for both sites. Also the staging of the evap-
orator panels and the installation of the 103
ton steam drum on top of the 205 m solar
tower of Khi. Additionally, they installed the
19x 259 ton steam accumulators and the
2x 335 ton heat-exchangers.
The road from the Port of Luderitz to Upington
encompasses a route of over 800 km with
a varying terrain and temperatures, which
also includes 60 km of dirt roads. Along the
route preparations were made to accom-
modate the loads to the extent that three
bridges and two culverts had to be specially
propped up over an eight month period to-
gether with several sections of road works.
This move was rated as the heaviest cargo
ever offloaded at the port of Luderitz and
transported on Namibia’s public roads.
ALE, with its considerable, specialised fleet
of latest generation of Self Propelled and
conventional modular trailers was able to
provide the necessary logistics to ensure
the arrival of the equipment and compo-
nents on site.
The vehicles used for this project were
the FAUN Goliath 8x8 tractors each with
an excess of 750 horsepower and used in
tandem. At times the requirement was for
three tractors depending on the load. Trail-
ers were the newly developed trailers with
hydraulic width adjustment systems which
enables the spread of axle load required to
adhere to the different weight/width restric-
tions for road transport found in different
countries.
Specifically designed hydraulic beams fixed
to the middle and to each end of the trailer
deliver the width change without the use of
a crane or lifting equipment.
ALE’s South African branches form part of
the global ALE business, yet locally based
in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Richards
Bay. The ALE branches were established to
provide a service for infrastructure projects
throughout Sub-Sahara Africa and have
so far maintained its reputation in being
a highly successful service provider in the
following; comprehensive turnkey opera-
tion, including shipping, carnage, transport,
on-sight handling and installation. Ale has
the equipment, personnel and experience
to successfully undertake major projects
throughout the world.
ALE’s South African branches are proud of
their Health, Safety and environmental re-
cord and are strongly committed to main-
taining this.
Ale strives to offer a high quality service to
all their customers. The company achieved
BS EN ISO 9001: 2000 certification in 1994
and is registered on the Norwegian Achil-
les system. The scope of the system cov-
ers transportation, installation and lifting of
heavy, indivisible items worldwide.
b
TRANSPORT