Congratulations to UGL and Transgrid on a defining milestone for HumeLink West: the VTM 500 kV tower - the heaviest, most weather-load-demanding structure on the line - has passed full-scale load testing at 110%.
On HumeLink West, APD Global took this tower from first outline through detailing, proto-assembly inspection and shop-drawing preparation. That work is now proven on the test bed. VTM is the structure that had to stand. It did - under the project test programme, at 110%.
End-to-end tower engineering
This is what it looks like when design, detailing and testing stay in one pair of hands:
- Design to the governing wind and weather cases
- Assembly and shop detailing of a 160-tonne lattice prototype
- Proto-assembly inspection before the steel left for the test bed
- Full-scale proof under the project test programme
A significant result for HumeLink West, for UGL and Transgrid, and for the infrastructure that will carry Australia's energy future. APD Global looks forward to continuing to support both clients as the project advances.
