Page 30 - Modern Steel Construction (April 2019)

Courtesy of Newport Industrial Fabrication
Lifting a long bridge assembly at
Newport’s facility.

ated a “warped surface.” While software
exists that can perform the necessary
flattening function to create blanks, it
did not provide adequate forming data.
As such, Newport developed custom
numeric modeling software to flatten the
surface, which allowed shop engineers
to program bump scribes on the CNC
plasma table and provide the press brake
operator with the specific location and
direction of each press strike. Know-
ing the bump frequency, the angular
deflection required to approximate the
curve was calculated, and the press brake
operator used these two pieces of infor-
mation to build a highly accurate part
When speed and quality on the very first try. The most extreme
forming condition involved a reversing
2-ft-radius curve with a 15° off-plumb
are essential. Trust JGM. profile at a grade change. Newport began
by burning two blanks, assuming it would
Let us meet your deadline. take at least two attempts to achieve the
proper shape. The forming methodology
was so reliable that the first attempt was
• Shop overbooked? successful and the second blank unneces-
• Accelerated construction schedule? sary. When it came to the steel arches,
• Complex work slowing you down? the 18-in. × 1.375-in. pipe used for these
elements was too large for Newport’s
Safety, Speed, Quality – that’s what you get with JGM. equipment, and bender-roller Kottler
Metal Products was employed to take on
Challenge us, we dare you. this bending work.
The three main steel sections of the
A fabricator’s TRUE partner, when you need it yesterday, bridge required careful coordination for
JGM delivers. delivery, due to their length and width, as

they were transported through Charles
Circle. While delivering such large com-
ponents was tricky, it allowed Newport
to maintain control of the geometry in
the shop and greatly reduced field work.
Contact us today The laydown site consisted of a small area
610-873-0081 between the Charles Circle off ramp, Stor-
solutions@jgmusa.com JGMUSA.COM row Drive and the Longfellow Bridge since

30 | APRIL 2019