Author Archives: Meredith Portman

About Meredith Portman

Meredith Portman is a freelance writer who specializes in heavy industry, healthcare and education.

WESTRAC: DUAL LANE TRANSPORTER FOR SUPER HEAVY HAULS

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Meredith Portman

Innovation is one of Barnhart’s core values, which frequently produces leading-edge products like one the cooler tools in our arsenal, the WesTrac/EasTrac dual lane transporter. Barnhart engineers, in conjunction with German manufacturer Goldhofer, designed WesTrac to be a new breed … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemical, Heavy Haul | Tagged Barnhart, EasTrac, Heavy Hauling, heavy transport, innovative engineering, WesTrac | Leave a comment

ICY WATERS PRESENT A CHALLENGE TO BARNHART

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Meredith Portman

Barnhart prides itself on keeping jobs on schedule, but sometimes Mother Nature trumps all our careful planning. Such was the case recently when Barnhart was hired by BP to move a knock out drum (KO) to a refinery in Ohio. … Continue reading →

Posted in Refinery | Tagged Barnhart Crane, BP, Heavy Lift Cranes, KO Drum, Refinery | Leave a comment

ALAN BARNHART NAMED TOP 25 NEWSMAKER BY ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Meredith Portman

Engineering News Record (ENR) recently named Alan Barnhart, owner and president of Barnhart Crane and Rigging, a “Top 25 Newsmaker” for his leadership of a company that successfully handled an extremely challenging project in Seattle last spring. Barnhart planned and executed … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, News | Tagged Alaska Way Viaduct, Bertha, heavy lift, heavy transport, Tunnel Boring Machine | Leave a comment

COMMON SENSE AND THE UNCOMMON COLD

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Meredith Portman

Last week’s polar vortex dominated the headlines. The weather phenomenon with the catchy, ominous name caused brutally cold weather that set records across the entire country. This arctic air mass also caused extreme temperature inversions. According to The Huffington Post, … Continue reading →

Posted in Nuclear Power | Tagged Barnhart, boiling water to snow, extreme cold, nuclear feedwater heaters, nuclear power, polar vortex | Leave a comment

A SAFETY VIDEO THAT WILL MAKE YOU SMILE

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Meredith Portman

One of the downsides of holiday travel – in addition to crowded airports, long lines, snow delays, crying children and generally grouchy people – is that even once you’re on the plane, you’re not done. After you dodge getting whacked … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Barnhart Crane, core values, Delta Airlines, holiday inflight safety video, safety | Leave a comment

ATTENTION TO DETAIL TILL THE JOB IS COMPLETE

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Meredith Portman

No matter what your college loyalties might be, if you’re a football fan, you were likely mesmerized by the Iron Bowl last weekend. This annual clash of football titans Alabama and Auburn is one the biggest rivalries in sports. But … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Barnhart Crane, core values, innovation, quality service | Leave a comment

THE POWER TO CHOOSE

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Meredith Portman

Yesterday was election day, but since it was an off-year, there were few races across the country. Therefore, those few in New Jersey, Virginia, Alabama and New York City garnered plenty of attention. Elections underscore our freedom of choice. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemical, Refinery | Tagged Crawler cranes, innovative engineering, Modular Tailing Tower, petrochemical | Leave a comment

THE VALUE OF RECOGNITION

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Meredith Portman

Recently, Barnhart made the Engineering News-Record’s list of Top 600 Specialty Contractors for 2013 ranked at number 45. That honor means it was a good year for Barnhart. Companies are ranked according to revenue from 2012. That good news seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Nuclear Power | Tagged Entergy Grand Gulf, nuclear power, safety, SCRA Job of the Year, Top 600 Specialty Contractors | Leave a comment

AGING WIND TURBINES: PAY NOW OR PAY MORE LATER

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Meredith Portman

In a recent article on website North American Wind Power, author John Clark cites statistics from the American Wind Energy Association that nearly $40 billion worth of wind installations in the U.S. came out of warranty in 2011. Another 50% of … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Power | Tagged maintenance, North American Wind Power, renewable energy, Wind turbine | Leave a comment

HEAVY HAUL MAKES NEWS IN TENNESSEE

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Meredith Portman

An ambitious hauling project was big news in Tennessee in August. Barnhart was involved in transporting a mammoth absorption column, 14 feet in diameter and 140 feet long, from Knoxville to the U.S. Nitrogen plant site in Greenville, Tenn. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemical, Heavy Haul, News | Tagged Barnhart Crane, gantry system, Heavy Haul, heavy transport, Knoxille, TN., U.S. Nitrogen | Leave a comment