PSC Crane & Rigging Moves Three 160-Tonne Transformers from Kentucky to Ohio
30-Second Takeaway
PSC Crane & Rigging completed the unloading, highway transport and final positioning of three 250 MVA transformers from Wilder, Kentucky, to a substation in Trenton, Ohio. Each transformer weighed approximately 160 tonnes and required transfers between a barge, self-propelled modular transporters and heavy-haul road trailers. Flooding one week before delivery left the river landing muddy, obstructed and without barge securement points, requiring substantial preparation before unloading could begin. Two hydraulic gantry systems handled the trailer transfers, followed by a final half-mile SPMT move and jack-and-slide installation onto permanent foundations.
PSC Crane & Rigging
PSC Crane & Rigging delivered a coordinated lifting and transport operation to move three large electrical transformers from a landing on the Licking River in Wilder to their permanent foundations in Trenton. The project combined marine unloading, short-distance site transport, hydraulic gantry transfers and a 67-mile highway journey for each unit.
Each transformer had a 250 MVA electrical rating. PSC’s project record lists an individual transport weight of approximately 347,500 pounds, equivalent to about 158 metric tonnes and reported here as approximately 160 tonnes.
The operation required the team to prepare two transfer locations and coordinate different equipment for the river landing, road journey and final approach to the substation.
Flooding Complicates the River Landing
The Licking River flooded just one week before the scheduled barge delivery.
Floodwater deposited mud across the landing area, while scrap iron from an earlier bridge salvage operation obstructed the site. The landing also lacked securement points for holding the barge against the riverbank during unloading.
PSC brought in RJ Corman Rail Services, which supplied two approximately 36 tonne dozers equipped with rear-drive winches to secure the barge. Meanwhile, PSC crews removed the scrap iron, scraped away the mud and prepared the ground for the loaded transporters.
Building the Barge-to-Land Transition
Crews installed, rolled and compacted fresh stone to improve the landing surface.
Swamp mats and steel plates were then used to create an elevated transition between the barge and riverbank. This provided the route needed for the SPMT to carry each transformer from the vessel onto land.
Each unit travelled on a 10-line SPMT arrangement to the transloading area. PSC’s equipment list also identifies four six-inch high-volume water pumps for ballast control during the operation. Preparing the landing was essential to making the planned unloading sequence possible after the flood had changed the site conditions.
Hydraulic Gantry Transfer in Wilder
At the Wilder transloading area, PSC used a hydraulic gantry rated at 700 US tons, approximately 635 metric tonnes, to transfer each transformer from SPMT onto a heavy-haul road trailer. The gantry lifted the load clear of the modular transporter, allowing the road transport equipment to be positioned beneath it.
This transfer marked the change from the equipment used for the river landing to the trailers selected for the highway journey. Two hydraulic cranes, each rated at 100 US tons or approximately 91 metric tonnes, supported gantry assembly and associated operations.
A 67-Mile Heavy-Haul Journey
Each transformer then travelled approximately 67 miles from Wilder, Kentucky, to Trenton, Ohio. The road movement was one stage of the delivery sequence. On arrival, each unit still needed to be transferred onto equipment suitable for the final approach to its foundation.
PSC therefore established a second gantry operation at the destination, reversing the transfer process used in Wilder.
Final SPMT Move and Jack-and-Slide Installation
At Trenton, PSC used a hydraulic gantry rated at 900 US tons, approximately 816 metric tonnes, to transfer each transformer from its road trailer back onto a 10-line SPMT arrangement. The transporter then carried the unit approximately half a mile into its final installation position.
Jack-and-slide equipment completed the placement onto the permanent foundation. This separated the final positioning work from the highway transport stage and allowed each transformer to be installed using a controlled lifting and sliding process.
The completed operation brought together landing preparation, barge securement, gantry lifting, heavy haulage and precision installation.
About PSC Crane & Rigging
PSC Crane & Rigging is a US crane, rigging and specialised transport company with roots in Piqua, Ohio. Earl F. Sever Sr. founded the business in 1933 as Piqua Steel Company, initially focusing on demolition and plant dismantling.
The company expanded into machinery moving, rigging and crane rental after relocating manufacturing equipment from Vandalia to Piqua in 1941. Subsequent development added turnkey machinery installation, specialised hauling and heavy rigging for industrial, power generation and utility customers.
PSC later expanded into the Columbus market and acquired a Cincinnati rigging business in 2019. Its project footprint has extended across the United States, Canada and Mexico, combining crane services with equipment relocation and specialised installation capabilities.
Official website: www.pscind.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PSC Crane & Rigging transport?
PSC moved three 250 MVA electrical transformers, each weighing approximately 160 tonnes.
Where did the transformers travel?
They moved from a barge landing on the Licking River in Wilder, Kentucky, to a substation site in Trenton, Ohio.
How did flooding affect the operation?
Flooding left mud across the landing and compromised site conditions. Crews cleared debris, installed compacted stone and built a mat-and-plate transition before unloading.
What equipment handled the transformer transfers?
A 635 tonne hydraulic gantry transferred the units onto road trailers in Wilder. An approximately 816 tonne gantry transferred them back onto SPMT in Trenton.
How were the transformers placed onto their foundations?
After a final half-mile SPMT move, PSC used jack-and-slide equipment to position the transformers onto their permanent foundations.
