Industrial Drum Refinishing Support: A Custom Rigging and Structural Solution

When a manufacturer we had previously performed rigging assembly and installation work for returned more than a year later with a unique and complex challenge, they knew who to call. The company needed to strip the finish from eight dryer drums and have a new stainless finish applied as part of critical equipment maintenance. They turned to R. Baker to make it happen.

The project came with several significant obstacles. With four machines on the floor, only one could be taken offline at a time while the remaining three stayed in operation. That required our team to carefully isolate each dryer from its utilities and install separation curtains to protect the active equipment.

The surface refinishing contractor had highly specific requirements to successfully remove and reapply a finish on each drum. The process had zero tolerance for inconsistencies, and it had to be completed quickly since the contractor was already committed to other projects overseas.

The finishing beam used in the process weighed 2,600 lbs and had to be perfectly parallel and level to the drum it was refinishing, both within less than 1/64 of an inch. As the drum rotated at a precise 5 RPM, the finishing beam traveled along its length, simultaneously removing the old surface and applying the new one. Any movement or deflection in the support structure would compromise the finish and potentially distort the drum itself, which would have been a costly and time-consuming setback.

With eight drums to refinish, the finishing beam needed to be relocated from drum to drum every 48 to 56 hours. Each drum had slightly different surrounding dimensions, meaning support configurations could not simply be replicated from one setup to the next. Adding to the complexity, each drum measured 4 feet wide by 16 feet long and sat eight feet above the finished floor, making anchoring the finishing beam a significant engineering challenge.

Our team assessed the full scope of the project and designed a custom support system engineered to work across all eight drums using a small number of anchor points and threaded adjustments for precise leveling. Rather than building a dedicated structure for each drum, we developed a modular solution that could be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled in one to two hours and relocated efficiently between setups. We engaged a trusted structural engineer to assist with the design, allowing the steel to move from concept to fabrication quickly. Our team successfully relocated the dryer refinishing system from drum to drum on a 48-hour cycle or better throughout the project.

Our client was pleased with the outcome. All eight drums were refinished to specification, and the facility returned to full operation on schedule. At the conclusion of the project, the custom support system was disassembled, packaged, and stored on-site for future use when the need arises again.

R. Baker & Son - Rigging & Demoliton Contractors
190 Boundary Road
Marlboro, NJ 07746
732-222-3553

https://www.rbaker.com/rigging-contractors.php