Modulift CMOD70 Frames Support RSS Rigging for 117.5-Tonne Bridge Removal

30-Second Takeaway

Rope and Sling Specialists has supplied the below-the-hook equipment for the removal of a 117.5-tonne access bridge at Matlock Sewage Treatment Works in Derbyshire. Beaver Bridges managed the operation, using two Ainscough cranes to lift the 34-metre structure in one piece. The primary crane’s rigging combined a 17-metre Modulift spreader beam with two Modulift CMOD70 frames, each providing four lifting points. The removal followed installation of a new crossing over the River Derwent as part of Severn Trent’s site upgrade.

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Modulift CMOD70

A combination of modular spreader equipment, slings and collar chains supported the removal of the former access bridge at Matlock Sewage Treatment Works.

Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) supplied the rigging equipment for Beaver Bridges, which was responsible for removing the redundant crossing after its replacement was installed earlier in 2026.

The old bridge measured 34 metres long and 4.5 metres wide, with a weight of 117.5 tonnes. Two cranes supplied by Ainscough Crane Hire lifted the complete structure before it was removed from site for scrapping.

Two Cranes Lift the Bridge in One Piece

Ainscough supplied a 600-tonne Terex-Demag TC 2800 lattice boom crane and a 230-tonne Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1 five axle All Terrain crane.

The TC 2800 performed the primary lift, with the Liebherr acting as the secondary crane. Their coordinated operation allowed the bridge to be handled as a complete structure.

RSS delivered the lifting equipment and supporting expertise from its Rotherham depot. Beaver Bridges’ appointed person, Adam Slicer, was responsible for the lift plan and supervision.

Spreader Beam and Frames Provide Multiple Pick Points

Below the TC 2800’s hook, RSS supplied a 17-metre-long Modulift modular spreader beam rated at 150 tonnes.

The beam was rigged above two CMOD70 spreader frames, each measuring 10 by three metres. The project announcement specifies a 60-tonne capacity for each frame in this configuration, with four lifting points per frame.

Collar chains were basketed through the bridge and connected through shackles to six-metre-long slings rated at 30 tonnes.

This arrangement provided multiple connections to the structure beneath the primary crane’s hook. The equipment ratings applied to the individual components and their specified configurations, with the complete lifting arrangement governed by the project’s lift plan.

Planning and Supervision Remain with Beaver Bridges

The cranes were supplied under CPA crane-hire terms, with Beaver Bridges retaining responsibility for planning and supervising the operation.

Ainscough provided the cranes and operators, while RSS supplied the below-the-hook equipment. These defined responsibilities brought the bridge contractor, crane supplier and rigging specialist together for the removal.

RSS Regional Manager Stephen Littler said:

“With a 117t-plus bridge being removed in a single piece, it was a rewarding project to see through to completion.”

Following the successful lift, the old crossing was taken away for scrapping, completing its removal from the treatment works.

About Rope and Sling Specialists

Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. is a UK lifting equipment engineering business with its head office in Swansea and a network of depots across the country. Its locations include Rotherham, Pyle, Aylesford, Grangemouth, Heathrow, Warrington, Plymouth and the Midlands.

The company manufactures, supplies and hires lifting equipment, alongside servicing, repairs, proof load testing and thorough examination. Its wider services include training, fall protection systems, workshop facilities and specialist support for the water industry.

RSS supports customers with equipment selection and mechanical handling advice. Its national depot network provides access to lifting gear and technical services for infrastructure, construction and industrial projects, including the Matlock bridge removal.

Official website: www.ropeandsling.co.uk

About Modulift

Modulift is a UK manufacturer of below-the-hook lifting equipment based in Poole, Dorset. Founded in 2002 by Technical Director Sue Spencer, the company developed its business around modular spreader beams and subsequently expanded its range of lifting equipment.

Its portfolio includes spreader beams, lifting beams, interchangeable spreader frames and custom-engineered equipment. The modular approach allows components to be assembled into different spans and configurations within their approved specifications.

Modulift provides engineering services from initial design through to manufacturing, supported by an in-house technical team and production facility. Its international distributor network supplies equipment to lifting operations worldwide, while its rental partners provide access to products for individual projects.

The CMOD frame range provides multiple lifting points for loads requiring a frame arrangement, as demonstrated by the two rectangular frames used beneath the main spreader beam at Matlock.

Official website: www.modulift.com

About Ainscough Crane Hire

Ainscough Crane Hire is a UK crane rental and lifting services company founded in Wigan in 1976 by Gerald Ainscough. Starting with six small cranes and a van, the business expanded through organic growth and acquisitions to establish a national operation.

Headquartered in Standish, near Wigan, Ainscough operates from 30 locations across the UK. Its network supports equipment mobilisation, regional customer service and emergency response, with specialist heavy crane and transport operations based in Leyland, Lancashire.

The company provides crane hire and contract lifting services for infrastructure, construction, power generation and industrial customers. Its capabilities range from individual mobile crane hires to complex lifting projects, supported by technical planning, experienced operators and fleet maintenance. At Matlock, Ainscough supplied the two cranes and operators, while Beaver Bridges retained responsibility for lift planning and supervision.

Official website: www.ainscough.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy was the bridge removed at Matlock?

The former access bridge weighed 117.5 tonnes and measured 34 metres long by 4.5 metres wide.

Which cranes performed the lift?

Ainscough supplied a 600-tonne Terex-Demag TC 2800 and a 230-tonne Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1.

What rigging equipment did RSS supply?

The equipment included a 17-metre, 150-tonne Modulift spreader beam, two CMOD70 frames, collar chains, shackles and six-metre, 30-tonne slings.

How were the Modulift CMOD70 frames configured?

Each frame measured 10 by three metres, provided four lifting points and was specified with a 60-tonne capacity for this arrangement.

Who was responsible for lift planning?

Beaver Bridges retained responsibility for the lift plan and supervision. Ainscough supplied cranes and operators, and RSS provided the rigging equipment.