ABU DHABI, U.A.E. – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, which opened Nov. 4, has more than 20 rides and attractions under its 2.2 million square foot roof, shaped like a profile of a Ferrari GT, and outside, visitors can take a ride on the world's fastest roller coaster, which accelerates to 150 m.p.h. in 4.9 seconds. For the attraction's Galleria Ferrari display area, which offers an interactive presentation of the company and its cars from 1947 to the present, Unusual Rigging & Engineering was tasked with hanging three different red Ferraris on oversized platforms as one might mount a work of art.
A second project for Unusual Rigging was in the "TechTransfer" area, which details how Ferrari's engineering travels from Grand Prix race cars to sports cars consumers can buy. Both projects were completed within a two-week time frame.
For the first project, Unusual Rigging's project manager, Leon Ingram, was well aware of the need for a system that would allow for careful maneuvering for the final placement of platforms. He devised a hoist system that included a run of square truss and a runner beam carrying two hoists for each platform, enabling fine adjustments to be made both laterally and vertically.
The bare platforms were first offered to the wall and positioned to enable the bolt holes to be pre-drilled. They were then lowered back to the ground, where the cars were fitted by the Ferrari team. After being given a final check by the Unusual Rigging and Engineering crew to ensure they were secure, the platforms and cars, which together weighed over 1,100 lbs. each, were hoisted into position and fixed firmly into place with chemical bolts.
The "TechTransfer" project involved moving two vehicles – a Ferrari F430 and a Fernando Alonso F1 car – out onto the display podium, where they can be seen hung vertically from a central post, revolving in opposite directions.
The project required Unusual Rigging and Engineering to build a custom frame to lift and support each of the vehicles, the heaviest being the F430, which weighs more than a ton. The move was carried out using a 15-meter high truss grid, which required two truss towers on each of two levels. The grid was fitted with I-beams on each side and another I-beam on a cross truss, enabling the vehicles to be moved in any direction.
For more information, please visit www.unusualrigging.com.
