Bespoke Design for Scientific Exploration Rig

RIKS received a request from a design house in the seaside town of Great Yarmouth, where a complete drive needed to be assembled and installed on a trawler for the launch of two exploration rigs due on a scientific exploration.

The two rigs were of different sizes – one was 24 tonnes and to be stowed in the Port side hold, the other was 12 tonnes and to be held on the Starboard side. Both would be launched and stowed away via a central conveyor leading to the ‘moon-Pool’ launch area.

Tight timescales… No Problem

The project was under tight time constraints and needed to be supplied in just two weeks, as the boat was due to sail shortly after, it was understood that late departures resulted in heavy fines. Invaluable engineering support was key, and after lengthy discussions the calculations were devised to establish the torque and speed requirements for all three drives.

The control solution provided by ERIKS allowed the user to operate the launch mechanism from a central control pendant, which was specifically designed to cater for all requirements. Working closely with one supply partner, Renold, each drive from supplied with 1½” Pitch Renold Synergy BS Transmission chain with K1 attachments.

ERIKS then selected a quadruple reduction Fenner Series C geared motor unit, fitted with an integrated inverter module. In addition to the drive components, ERIKS, having the ability to supply a vast amount of products, also supplied bearings, sprockets and chain-tensioners to ensure the drive was installed correctly and to the manufacturers’ specification, achieving optimum performance and life cycle.

ERIKS offer a full design, build, test and after sales support service to their customers, with the ability to work to extremely tight time constraints in order to meet a customer’s demands. Minimising layover times and late departures is key to this service, as they understand that cost savings are imperative.