Steven Beemsterboer, a Project Manager for Metropolitan Steel, was the first place winner for his lift plans of an ongoing project for the Chicago Department of Transportation. The company is erecting the steel for Damen Greenline Station, a rapid transit station, expected to open in 2024.
“For us, 3D Lift Plan has been a game-changing solution for three-dimensional crane modeling. It was invaluable for navigating this difficult project and transformed the way we approach crane operations, revolutionizing our workflow and driving unprecedented efficiency,” said Beemsterboer, who is a Level 3 Certified Expert user of the program.
“By leveraging 3D Lift Plan, we can now create meticulously detailed lift plans to scale, allowing us to make cost-effective decisions that save both time and money," Beemsterboer said. "With the ability to select the ideal crane model and determine the correct capacities for each specific job, we can confidently optimize our lifting operations. On this specific project, we had many twists and turns requiring us to change crane models, location of the crane, rigging, and more."
Second place was awarded to Trapper Wyman, President of Mansfield Crane Service Corp., and the company’s primary Lift Planner. Wyman has been a 3D Lift Plan Level 3 Certified Expert since 2015 and was selected as a finalist in the contest on two previous occasions.
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For this project, Mansfield Crane Service needed to lift a flue gas cooler during a maintenance shutdown. The old cooler was lifted out of the building, over de-energized electric lines, then laid over using a second crane, then a new unit was installed.
“We were able to explain the complexity and constraints of the job to the customer by using 3D Lift Plan by showing the order of steps to demonstrate the lift process,” Wyman said.
Anthony Ortiz, Project Manager for Alliance Riggers & Constructors, the third place winner, explained that his company used 3D Lift Plan at every stage of the project — from sales presentations to potential customers through the bidding process and for pre-planning and site logistics. This project required removing a digester lid for El Paso Water and involved complex rigging.
“3D Lift Plan’s collaborative features facilitate effective communication among team members, enabling seamless coordination and better project outcomes," Ortiz said. "The software generates comprehensive reports and documentation, ensuring transparency and accountability in each phase of the project."
The other finalists in the contest included:
- Jesse Bower, a Sales Specialist for Jcrane Inc., Covington, Ohio
- Christopher Erickson, Vice President of Operations for Midwest Crane Services, Tulsa, Oklahoma
