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Sauber Mfg. Chooses CCG as OEM partner for Deployment Trailer
When Sauber Mfg. was designing its Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer, Creative Composites Group’s 10-inch StormStrong® pole provided the light-weight resiliency that this innovative design needed.
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Sauber Mfg. prides itself on designs that improve the utility industry. They develop, manufacture and distribute new products to overcome problems experienced in the field.
A major problem for utilities is downtime during necessary maintenance or outages. Replacing broken poles and restoring power can mean unacceptable outage durations for customers as crews remove and replace the pole and reconnect lines, often during difficult circumstances or weather.
To reduce customer downtime while maintaining line crew safety, Sauber Mfg. designed the first-of-its-kind Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer. The design can move in any needed direction—horizontally, vertically and with 360° continuous rotation, which clocks the insulated rollers perpendicular to the line direction. The trailer is maneuvered into place with its upper stage, or “boom,” in a vertical position. With outriggers set, the structure is then elevated into the work area. The upper boom is designed to carry the live power load (and a transformer when required) while the damage or legacy pole is replaced. Sauber Mfg. needed a boom for the third stage that would deliver nimble, safe performance to the Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer.
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StormStrong utility poles by Creative Composites Group provided the ideal solution for the boom of Sauber Mfg.’s Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer. The single-piece, 10-inch, 3/8-inch thick, 18-foot pole’s outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, consistent composition and corrosion resistance give it the resilience to withstand repeated horizontal to vertical movements without adding additional weight.We initially looked at using a wood pole for the upper stage, since our users were familiar with the material. But connecting a wood pole to the second stage proved challenging because of their inconsistency. So, we turned to CCG’s FRP pole. It was exactly what we needed.Jim Sauber President, Sauber Mfg. Co.
The StormStrong pole also delivers the safety benefits Sauber Mfg.’s utility customers require. “CCG has done such a thorough job of testing their poles’ fitness for duty and providing that information to buyers that we felt confident telling our customers to treat the boom as any other live pole,” said Jim Sauber.
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Utilities using the product report shorter interruptions to service when maintenance is needed. They’re using it for rip and replace, temporary support over intersection and long spans and as a temporary pole in substation work. The exceptional maneuverability of the Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer allows crews of fewer workers to flexibly approach the work area and minimize or even avoid service interruptions. The StormStrong boom is an essential component of this revolutionary design.
Project Details
- Client: Sauber Manufacturing Company
- Location: Virgil, IL
- StormStrong Pole Model: TU440
- Diameter: 10"
- Wall Thickness: 3/8"
- Length: 18'
- Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer Patented: 2018
- Rapid Overhead Deployment Trailer Available to Utilities: 2020