When Dunlop — one of South Africa’s leading rubber and tyre manufacturers — required the placement of a large industrial autoclave at its manufacturing facility, Reef Rigging managed the rigging and precision positioning of this heavy vulcanisation vessel within an active manufacturing environment. This project is one of many completed by Reef Rigging for Dunlop over a decade-long partnership.
What Is an Industrial Autoclave and Why Is It Difficult to Install?
An industrial autoclave is a large pressure vessel used to cure rubber products — including tyres — through controlled heat and pressure. These vessels are typically very heavy, must be positioned precisely on structural supports that align with process piping and loading mechanisms, and are often too large to be directly craned into their final installation position from outside the building. Precision placement is essential for safe and efficient operation.
Key Challenges: Active Manufacturing Environment and Confined Access
Dunlop’s manufacturing facilities operate continuously, and disruption to production during the installation had to be minimised. The autoclave was large and heavy relative to the available access within the plant, requiring a multi-stage rigging approach: crane lifting to bring the vessel to the facility and position it close to its installation area, followed by specialist ground-level positioning equipment — hydraulic jacks, machine skates, and chain blocks — for final precision placement.
Reef Rigging’s Approach
Reef Rigging’s team — familiar with Dunlop’s facilities from a long-standing partnership — planned the installation sequence in detail before mobilising to site. The approach combined mobile crane operations for bringing the autoclave to the building and initial placement, with hydraulic jacking and precision positioning equipment for final seating. The project was completed within the planned schedule, allowing Dunlop’s production to resume without delay.
Gianni Nosenzo from Dunlop has noted Reef Rigging’s “high level of rigging skills and knowledge of moving items exceeding 45 tonnes inside live factory environments” — a reflection of the company’s decade of experience at Dunlop’s plants. Contact Reef Rigging for industrial equipment installation and machinery placement services.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pressure Vessel and Autoclave Installation
What precautions are taken when rigging a pressure vessel like an autoclave?
When rigging a pressure vessel, the rigging must be attached only to the designated structural lift points — not to nozzles, flanges, or pressure-retaining components that could be damaged or distorted by rigging loads. The centre of gravity must be confirmed before the lift, and the rigging configuration must keep the vessel in its correct orientation throughout the lift. Shock loading must be avoided during lifting and lowering to prevent damage to the vessel’s internal components and sealing surfaces.
How is precision positioning achieved for autoclaves and large pressure vessels?
Final precision positioning of heavy autoclaves and pressure vessels is typically achieved using hydraulic jacking systems, machine skates, and chain blocks in combination. The vessel is first brought to a position close to its foundation by crane, then transferred to ground-level positioning equipment for the final placement. Measurement tools including laser levels and survey equipment are used to confirm that the vessel is correctly positioned before it is finally seated on its support structure.