SAFETY
winch location and design the proper subframe for the winch to be installed,” Bates said
“ We bolt the winch to a 1-inch mounting plate which is welded to shear plates which are bolted to the truck frame. [ The utility companies ] buy the trucks and spend time with us to make sure their specification is right. How long they want the body, the valving and hydraulic lines for the winch. We consider the wheelbase, frame strength and how they want to mount the operator’ s controls.”
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Generating Cost Efficiencies Avoiding time and cost overruns is highly dependent on equipment uptime and efficiency, as well as the expertise of machine operators who must exert precise control to prevent problems during underground pulls.
Excessive tension or improper handling during pulls can result in damage to the unenergized power lines or wire rope, requiring costly repairs or replacements.
The BP200C has an active level wind
Burying high-voltage power cables underground has been identified as one solution to reduce outages and ignition risks. mechanism to evenly spool wire rope onto the drum. This integrated feature helps prevent issues like kinking, backlashing and bird nesting.
The winch is designed for reduced heat generation while maintaining cable integrity during long continuous duty pulls. Underwound and overwound winch configurations are available.
“ Every underground job has some difficulty, they have to factor in the size of the cable, the length of the pull and the winch you should use to do it,” Bates said.
“ They are trying to be careful not to damage the cable, to get as much life out of [ wire rope ] as they can,” he continued.“ The level wind lays down the cable, so it doesn’ t get misaligned or tangled. You can run the cable faster or slower and [ the winch ] provides for smooth, controllable pulling action.”
Telecom & Utility Construction | Spring 2025
The BRADEN BP200C can be underwound or overwound for mounting versatility and features adjustable low-drag free spool for pulling cable manually.
Extended Utility An extension shaft, available at various lengths for the BP200C, can be routed through the truck body and extended out one side to create an optional capstan drive. Typically installed near the rear of the truck bed, it can remain unobtrusive yet accessible from the back.
Additionally, mounting a collapsible hose reel provides an alternative method for pulling cable, reducing the need to rehandle smaller loads. Bates explained,“ If they have loose cable on the ground, this becomes a secondary function.”
Amped Up Requirements Requirements and expectations for grid improvements are driving advanced technology, custom engineering, fabrication and manufacturing capabilities to the forefront of modernizing America’ s utility infrastructure.
Minimizing delays, avoiding damage to power cables and wire rope and eliminating operational hiccups are among the keys to achieving greater time and cost savings when implementing grid modernization objectives.
Don Bates has been in business since 1967. He started his company in 1983 and has provided support to Northeast U. S. utility infrastructure projects over the past three decades.
The partnership between DC Bates and BRADEN highlights the critical role of manufacturing partnerships, producing specialized equipment and components such as drum winches engineered for precision and continuous duty cycle cable pulling performance.
On a tactical level, specialized equipment with purpose-built winches can be tailored with high drum capacity and flexible mounting options to make the work of undergrounding more predictable and cost effective.
Todd Razor is a Midwest U. S.-based writer and consultant covering trends in manufacturing and material handling technologies worldwide. He is president of Three Razors Media in Des Moines, Iowa.