Distillation Column Removal & Replacement

Caribbean

When one of the world’s largest rum-flavored liqueur producers needed a 100-foot distillation tower transported from Spain, delivered to the Caribbean, and installed asap, they summoned one of the world’s largest aircrafts (An-124) and then called icon Mechanical.

Just weeks before, the premium spirits stopped bubbling at the facility when an unplanned event rendered the distillation stack inoperable and left the alcohol purveyor temporarily high and dry.

icon was immediately engaged to painstakingly prep the damaged tower for removal and subsequently manage the successful lift out. icon worked to identify the fastest method for replacement even as the original tower was being removed.

The quickest solution was ordering a custom-made, 40-ton tower from Madrid, Spain — a production process that would take 10 weeks and keen logistical planning.

icon helped speed the overall project timeline by concurrently prefabbing every tower/pipe connection at its Granite City, IL, prefabrication shops while the stack was being constructed in Europe.

The more than 200 pre-made connection components were then shipped to the Caribbean ahead of the new tower’s arrival.

The new distillation tower ultimately required over 800 pipe welds — which icon produced without error. Installation on all the new components and piping were completed prior to the column’s arrival and the tower was set with final connections made in one week. The project was completed 5 weeks ahead of schedule putting the owner back on line with revenue flowing again.