The familiar sight of semi-trailer trucks on the roadway is ingrained in our daily lives. These massive heavy-duty trucks transport heavy, necessary, critical, and even hazardous goods on highways and interstates from coast to coast every day.
They move roughly 71 percent of the nation’s freight by weight, according to the American Trucking Associations. In the United States, the industry employs more than 8.7 million people.
Manufacturing these lifeblood vehicles for our nation falls to several well-known truck manufacturers. One of the largest global manufactures of heavy-duty trucks, chassis, and semi-trailer trucks in North America was recently faced with an unexpected event. The plant was experiencing heavy production when they discovered that a parts manufacturer was going to be delayed in a scheduled delivery of parts necessary to complete the vehicles for distribution. Rather than hold up production, they began searching for a way to expedite the assembly of the final parts once they arrived. It would require extra space outside the plant. There was plenty of asphalt for a structure—the only question was: Who could handle the project?
Sunbelt Rentals' name soon surfaced as a preferred vendor. We had installed projects for them and were awarded the manufacturing shop project based on the confidence level we had earned from our successful outcomes in the past.
The Challenge
This manufacturer needed a temporary space to house multiple massive semi-truck cabs. Height was a focus, as was the ability to have openings on both ends of the structure. The plant intended to continue operations while the structures were being installed. Additionally, as the planning progressed the manufacturer had two more departments request a similar temporary structure. The largest was projected to be 5000 sq. feet. The others were estimated at 3000 sq. feet each. Lastly, they needed structures that could be installed quickly and could be fully functional in a matter of days.
The client’s needs included a structure that:
- Was sturdy and tall enough to accommodate trucks and equipment
- Could remain onsite for 12 months
- Incorporated LED lighting
- Incorporated entrance and exit openings
The Solution
The final solution included both MegaStructure™ and the SuperSeries™ structures that totaled 11,600 sq. feet of additional space.
The MegaStructure™ is made of industrial fabric, is engineered to withstand winds up to 130 mph, and is ideal for semi-permanent applications. It can easily maintain structural integrity with the inclusion of extension legs necessary to accommodate the height of the vehicles.
The SuperSeries™ can also withstand severe weather conditions. The structure is modular with bays added one to another for theoretically unlimited lengths.
Sunbelt Rentals' solution included the following features:
- 2 - 3000 sq. foot MegaStructure™ industrial engineered fabric structures
- 3 – 16-foot leg extensions
- 1 - 5000 sq. foot SuperSeries™
- 3 - LED lighting packages
- Expert project managers, designers, and an expert installation team
The Result
The Sunbelt Rentals team arrived on site and installed all three structures in a matter of days. The tight turnaround allowed the manufacturer to begin assembling the final parts immediately upon delivery.
Working around a fully operational manufacturing plant can be challenging, and the Sunbelt Rentals team is experienced in accommodating other teams’ needs and managed to stay on schedule and finish well within the timeframe allotted. We were even able to relocate the trucks smoothly and efficiently to and from each installation site. The manufacturer was delighted with the result.
The Takeaways
No order is too tall for the Sunbelt Rentals team! It’s important to team up with a vendor that has the expertise to make the best recommendation for your project needs. Sunbelt Rentals has years of experience setting up structures in the field for multiple industries.
Sunbelt Rentals is more than a structure vendor—we are a true partner in your next project. Ready to work with us? Contact one of our project managers today.
Ready to work with us?
Contact one of our project managers today.
