On a construction or industrial site, there is a never ending cavalcade of machines and equipment that others deem essential. Part of your job is determining which equipment needs to be there and what will best complete the work. At first, you may not consider mechanical flange spreaders important for a project, particularly if you're only aware of them from their roles in vehicle accident aftermaths when they're "jaws of life". However, if you're doing any of these tasks, flange spreaders are vital.
Replacing Gaskets
Almost every work site uses pipes and other objects that rely on seals, or gaskets, to prevent spills, mixing or other issues. However, gaskets can be notoriously difficult for employees to access without help. If gaskets become torn or damaged and have to be taken out, work in that area can be shut down for a long while as someone gets to the existing gasket and replaces it.
Flange spreaders, particularly those that work mechanically, can make the task rather simple. A spreader will grip pipe flanges on either side of the gasket and pry enough free space between them that reaching the gasket takes minutes instead of hours. After replacement, the spreader can be removed and work can resume.
Transporting Heavy, Oddly-Shaped Objects
Spreaders are so versatile that prying isn't the only work they can do. You are likely to have many things on your site that are tricky to lift securely. For example, tanks and barrels are heavy, large and not rectangular; if you've planned to move them via forklift, there will need to be sufficient time to somehow push the tines underneath the items before they're ever lifted and transported. Attempting a simple push could actually knock the items over.
Mechanical flange spreaders may rescue your workers in such a case. The spreaders can fit between soil and barrels and other objects, lifting them. Then your workers can use the forklift as usual.
Movement of Concrete
Flange spreaders are important when concrete is being used or moved. If the site has a poured concrete barrier or pad in place, the owner may just want it moved rather than destroyed. By creating cracks and then using flange spreaders for gripping chunks and transporting them elsewhere, your workers won't need to destroy the structure in place only to have to recreate it later.
With these uses, spreaders of this type can perform many functions on the construction or industrial site you're doing work on. Consult flange spreader vendors, like SMP Specialty Maintenance Products, for the appropriate sizes you might require.
