Cascade Power Project, Edson Alberta

THE PROJECT REQUIREMENTS WAS TO DESIGN, SUPPLY, AND DELIVER

• (2) 140 Tonne Top Running Double Girder cranes each with (1) 140 tonne Main hoist and (1) 22 Tonne Auxiliary hoist.
• The main hoists were custom order open winch style because of the capacity and high lifting height.
• All crane motors powered by Variable Frequency drives for superior performance and motor control.
• WF supplied the concrete test weights to carry out the load test. Around 385700 lbs of test weights supplied including testing skid.
• Cranes were delivered in December 2021 and commissioned/tested in April 2022.

Testimonial

– Black & Veatch Project Manager

How was the bidding experience on dealing with WF as this was quite an extensive bid process? Why WF was selected?

WF provided a competitive bid with a quick turn around on the RFP. Our project had some pretty specific technical items that WF picked up on and addressed with their Bid. The clarification stage of the bidding process was one of the best I have been through with any vendor, they were open, honest, and detailed when responding to questions. One of the main reasons WF was selected was due to their local presence in western Canada. Other major crane vendors were either unable or unwilling to offer the same level of service and coordination that WF was offering.

Did WF manage to meet your expectations in meeting clients’ specifications/timelines?

WF exceeded my expectations. They communicated clearly and honestly when supply chain issues came up. In most cases they had planned enough in advance that supply chain issues were mitigated, and when we hit unforeseen bumps in the road they offered solutions rather than just presenting problems. Their ability to flex when necessary and their willingness to communicate and be part of the team made navigating the macro problems presented to the world in 2020 and 2021 much more manageable. This Procurement presented both challenges from Europe and North America outside the control of our project and WF’s willingness to be part of the project team as opposed to an outside entity just trying to make some money played a huge role in our success.

How was the overall experience dealing with WF, any highlights?

WF’s project manager was polite and professional. His willingness to create and maintain a good relationship helped our team navigate technical challenges. We had very limited space for crane load testing, WF’s project manager took the time to understand the problem and present a solution that was executable. Their Service team was very responsive when helping to complete onsite erection, operational testing, and load testing. Our project schedule required that we set up and use the cranes during the construction phase of the project. WF brought their engineering expertise to the table to navigate the complex electrical engineering required to safely power the crane early in our construction schedule. We had many challenges that were made manageable because of WF’s open and honest approach, I appreciate the knowledge and input from their project manager and team.

Anything else you want to add?

I have reviewed engineering documents from a wide range of different procurement types, big and small. WF’s deliverable quality and completeness is near the top of the list for me. Return comments from our engineering and construction teams were minimal, and when their were comments WF’s responsiveness was wonderful. I am sure any of the bidder would have delivered a satisfactory product, but the excellent quality of WF’s engineering drawings and manuals eliminated a headache that I often see when working through a procurement. This reduction in mental stress was priceless to me during the project.