Transporting a 240,000 Lb Autoclave to Arlington, WA

A pressure-treated wood manufacturing and distribution company was in the midst of an important upgrade to their autoclave. The new technology would be larger, and much more efficient for the company’s operations. They were in need of a specialized transportation services company who could execute the move of the new equipment from Sandy, OR to Arlington, WA—equipment set to weigh in at 150,000 lbs. Omega Morgan’s Portland and Seattle specialized transportation, machinery moving, and crane teams got up to bat to move this superload safely and efficiently.

The Challenge: Safely Transporting an Oversized Autoclave Across Washington

Transporting a 240,000-pound autoclave meant accommodating changing project requirements, oversized load restrictions, and a delivery schedule that couldn’t slip.

Managing Extreme Weight and Dimensions

The first step was to plan for loading and transportation of the autoclave. Two months before the move, our teams encountered a big hurdle: the autoclave grew in weight. The initial weight estimation of 150,000 lbs grew to 240,000 lbs, and 146 feet long. This represented a big change not only for the transportation configuration, but also for the equipment to load and offload.

Planning the Transportation Route

Our teams started with drawings of the vessel and modeling how our innovative dolly walker system—sets of dollies mounted to walker beams to create a trailer—would interface with the load. We also had to account for nozzles and other pieces that stuck out from the autoclave’s surface when considering the route and transportation configuration.

Coordinating Delivery to Meet the Customer’s Schedule

That wasn’t the only roadblock in our way, however. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was also delayed in issuing the superload permits. The moment the approval came in, our teams set up the utility escort, and pulled and sleeved the signs prior to transportation so they could be removed and replaced on the fly as our team made our way up the final delivery site.

The Solution: Specialized Heavy Haul Planning and Precision Execution

Omega Morgan adapted the transportation plan as project requirements changed, selecting the equipment and logistics needed to complete each phase of the move.

Route Surveys and Permitting

Route surveys and permitting continued throughout the planning process. Once WSDOT approved the superload permits, Omega Morgan coordinated utility escorts and roadside sign removal before transport began.

Selecting the Right Transport Equipment

Originally, our team had designed a spacer for the load. However, when we got onsite to load the autoclave, we determined it wasn’t needed—we would still be able to load the piece and transport it safely. The advantage of not having the spacer meant we would have a lower height clearance for transportation. There were several structures and powerlines on the route that would have been close to the original laden height; the team was able to bypass them much easier. The route involved tight fits and 90-degree turns—but our expert crews navigated the entire route safely.

The Result: Delivered Critical Equipment Safely and On Schedule

Omega Morgan delivered the autoclave to Arlington on schedule despite major changes to the project’s weight and transportation requirements.

• 240,000-pound autoclave delivered
• Customer schedule maintained
• Equipment protected throughout transport
• Oversized delivery completed successfully

When all was said and done, our customer was more than happy with the Omega Morgan team’s innovative approach to challenges, and the safe and efficient delivery of the autoclave to its new location.