Inside a 150-Ton Lift: Lessons from the Field

This Wasn’t Just Another Heavy Lift

We’ve seen big jobs but this one stood out.

Our team was brought in to handle a 150-ton chiller installation for a manufacturing facility in the city of Atlanta. Between the narrow setup access and possible storm, this was a classic case of urban rigging meets battlefield chess.

The ask? We lifted this massive chiller up and over a 6 story structure that was a long reach and had to set it perfectly onto the pads.

This case wasn’t just about muscle. It was about math, margin, and mindsets.

What We Were Up Against

 1. The Location

• Tight setup area

• Delivery trucks, pedestrians, and streetcars within 200 feet

• Lots of transfer trucks in the way

 1. The Load

• 150-ton prefabricated Chillers

• Center of gravity slightly off-center due to internal design

• Needed to be landed onto pads but with little to none deviation

  
  

 2. The Risk

• One-way access road

• Possible storm forecasted

• Losing daylight

Our Plan of Attack

At Patriot Lifting, we don’t just “show up and hoist.” Every lift starts with a plan and this one started 3 weeks in advance.

Step 1: 3D Lift Simulation

We ran a full virtual mock-up using CAD models of the jobsite, factoring in load shift, boom swing, and environmental variables. This gave us real-world tolerances and red flags.

Step 2: City Coordination & Permitting

We coordinated with traffic control, emergency services, and neighboring businesses to ensure street closures and access clearance.

“When you’re working downtown, your crane isn’t the only thing that needs to move smoothly—logistics matter just as much as lifting.” — Project Engineer, Patriot Lifting

Step 3: Equipment & Crew

We brought in a 110t crane with a telescoping boom, secondary safety slings, complex rigging system and digital load sensors.

What Happened on Lift Day?

Surprise Storm

Despite earlier forecasts, wind speeds was increasing and dark clouds were rolling in. We had to wait a couple hours for the storm to roll out and this lift went into the night!

Night Approached

After we waited for the storm the sun went down and we had to finish the job at night! Which is no problem for our patriot lifting cranes and crew because we have lights all over the crane for any night lifts.

The Lift

From arriving on site to fully packed up, the lift took 17 hours! The chillers were landed on the pads with less than a quarter of a inch of deviation.

✅ No damage

✅ No injuries

✅ No calls from the client (except to say thank you)

Heavy Lifts Aren’t About Muscle. They’re About Precision.

This 150-ton lift wasn’t just a technical job—it was a trust job. The client didn’t just want it done. They wanted it done right—on time.

That’s what we do at Patriot Lifting.

📞 Need a partner for your next complex lift? Let’s plan it right, from the first bolt to the last set.