SUMMARY
Frames is a specialist manufacturer of process equipment packages, including subsea chemical injection systems used in offshore oil and gas operations. These packages are densely instrumented, skid-mounted assemblies — built on structural steel I-beam frames and packed with pumps, valves, tubing, and control systems. Finished units can exceed 20,000 lb and require careful handling throughout assembly, testing, and shipment preparation.
Weight of each chemical injection package
Overhead crane capacity available in the facility
Needed to float and position each unit by hand
THE PROBLEM
- Packages exceed 20,000 lb — beyond the capacity of available overhead cranes
- No crane infrastructure in the assembly area; installing one was cost-prohibitive
- Removing or modifying the building to add crane capacity was not viable
- Alternative handling methods (forklifts, skates) couldn’t safely position the delicate packages
- Precise positioning needed during assembly and testing — not just rough movement
THE SOLUTION
- Airfloat Lift Glides placed under the I-beam base frame of each package
- Airbag actuation lifts the load off the floor, then air-bearing floats it on a thin film of air
- Units can be steered and positioned by hand with full precision — no powered equipment needed
- Works on the facility’s existing polished concrete floor with no modifications
- Skids lower and lock the load in place when air is off — safe and stable at every stage
How Lift Glides Work
Lift Glides are a specialized air skid that combines an integrated airbag with an air-bearing transport base. When air is supplied, the airbag inflates to lift the load off the floor; the air bearing then creates a thin film of air beneath the skid, allowing the load to float freely. When air is cut, the load settles and locks in place. This makes Lift Glides ideal for loads sitting on steel I-beam frames — a common configuration in modular equipment packages.
Safety and Control
The Lift Glide system was designed with safe operation as a core requirement, not an afterthought.
No crane required
The Lift Glide system eliminates dependence on overhead cranes entirely — critical when crane infrastructure doesn’t exist or can’t be added without major facility modifications.
Hand-steerable precision
When air supply is cut, skids settle directly onto the concrete and the load is immobilized. No accidental drift is possible with the system powered down.
Hand-steerable precision
Floating units can be guided by hand to exact positions. This is especially valuable for aligning heavy equipment packages during assembly and testing.
Dead-man pendant control
A quick-exhaust valve settles the load in about one second when released — giving operators immediate emergency stop capability without moving the load far.
IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS
The Lift Glides were positioned under the I-beam base frame of each chemical injection package at the start of assembly. From that point, the unit could be floated to any position in the facility, rotated, and precisely aligned by hand — with no crane, no forklift, and no powered tugger required.
Movement where none was possible. With no viable crane option, the Lift Glide system was the difference between a workable assembly process and a facility limitation that couldn’t be solved.
Avoided major capital expenditure. Installing overhead crane infrastructure or modifying the building would have cost significantly more than the Lift Glide system — and taken far longer to implement.
Precise positioning during assembly. Operators can float the unit into exact alignment by hand, reducing the risk of damage to sensitive instrumentation during movement.
No floor damage. Air-bearing transport protects the facility’s polished concrete floor throughout the production process.
Reusable and flexible. The Lift Glides are returned to the start of the line after each use and can support varying package sizes and configurations.
For more information about Airfloat Lift Glides and air skid systems, contact us today.
