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Hurricane Sandy Drawbridge Brakes

New York City, NY

Construction | Power & Motion Technology | Crane Systems | Automation | By Matt Gergeni | 01 Nov 2012


Nearly five years after Hurricane Sandy, cities along the eastern seaboard continue to discover—and repair—the damage inflicted on their infrastructure by the Category 3 storm.

Recently, Magnetek had the opportunity to help mend some of the long-term damage the hurricane caused by refurbishing and rebuilding 16 storm-damaged 300M Mill Duty AC Thruster Shoe Brakes. The industrial AIST-rated brakes were fully submerged in saltwater for an extended period following Hurricane Sandy. While at Magnetek’s Menomonee Falls, WI, facility, the brakes were inspected and dismantled before being reassembled with new hardware, shoes, and actuators. The rebuilding process returned the brakes to like-new condition, including a new “safety orange” paint job.

Sandy, the second-costliest hurricane in United States history, caused damage in excess of $68 billion across 24 states. Hurricane Sandy rainfall totals reached up to 10 inches across the region in 2012, causing a storm surge of nearly 14 feet. The rapid influx of seawater flooded the bridge’s mechanical room, contaminating critical systems required to control the bascule bridge structure. The introduction of saltwater accelerated the destructive impact of corrosion on the bridges’ mechanical systems.

The restored and refurbished 300M Mill Duty AC Thruster Shoe Brakes are used in the operation of a four lane drawbridge that spans a busy navigation channel in New York City. The service team at Magnetek completed the job in record time in order to restore traffic flow to boats and commuters in the region.

Hurricane Sandy Drawbridge Brakes

Orange Brakes 3 B