MBI 160-1,5/S und MBI 180-1,4/S to Norway
In a land like those only seen in picture books, crossed by fjords and located on the Atlantic coast – Norway seduces you with its beautiful landscape. It also contains bridges that of course have to be inspected and maintained. This is where MOOG enters the scene and was glad to receive orders for two big platform units.
The first machine – a MBI 160-1,5/S mounted on a SCANIA chassis – delivered the end of June 2016 and was handed over to the company Visinor Fjellnord AS, a longtime customer located in the North of Norway. Visinor has been MOOG’s customer for the past 25 years and is extending its vehicle fleet with an additional MOOG Under-Bridge unit.
The MBI 160-1,5/S has a maximum horizontal range of 16.0 m under the bridge, which can be extended up to 19.0 m with help of the additional platform extensions ordered with this unit. The platform is 1.5 m wide and has a payload of 800 kg. The machine is equipped with an elevating frame which increases its ability to cross sound barriers of up to 4.3 m. It can be operated continuously and while not in use it even helps to extend the sidewalk clearance. The Under-Bridge Access Unit was also equipped with a HIAB loading crane which helps to easily provide needed material or the optional pier inspection unit, ordered with this unit, to the platform by lowering it from the bridge deck to the erected platform. The customer will be able to use the machine for many different types of maintenance/ inspection projects.
The second platform unit, a MBI 180-1,4/S truck version, was handed over to a new customer, Drammen Liftutleie AS, located in the South of Norway in the beginning of July 2016. MOOG was not only glad to acquire a new customer but was also excited to be delivering a new MOOG prototype to this company. With this prototype MOOG dares a combination of two of their proven machine models: The telescopic boom from the successful bucket MBL models paired with the truss-type tower and platform of the MBI models.
The result is an impressive: 18.0 m of horizontal working range under the bridge with either 3.9 m of sidewalk clearance or 4.0 m crossing of sound barriers and 9.7 m of maximum lowering depth. All this with a total weight of only 32 tons.
Originally the machine was intended for the Chinese market, but as this market has declined sharply, firstly for economic reasons and on the other hand by dominant local (plagiarized) products, this prototype Under-Bridge Access Unit is now being operated on the European market. And with its above mentioned properties it is perfect for this market as well.
