Power & Utility Infrastructure

Test Facility

First of its kind full-scale testing services to deliver certainty that structures will function as designed.

Located in Alvarado, Texas, our test facility is the only of its kind in the country and serves as a testament to our engineering, design, research, and development heritage. We have consistently pushed the industry forward with innovative solutions, and our test facility gives us a platform to prove the certainty of our designs.

Capabilities

Test engineered structures up to 235-ft tall and 12.5-ft base width

Arm test capable

Lattice test capable

Case Study: PSE&G

The Challenge
PSE&G needed to replace an existing 230kV single-circuit pole with a new 345kV single-circuit pole that also allowed for future expansion. The state required an aesthetically pleasing design with a smooth knuckle transition, and the foundation had to remain a single column within the same narrow right-of-way.
The Solve
With a long history of tackling complex projects, Sabre was selected as the single-source provider for PSE&G’s transmission structures. To meet the customer’s requirements, our team developed an extendable Y-frame design that went through several iterations to ensure the foundation and base could support both single- and double-circuit loading. We also created a removable knuckle, giving the utility flexibility to convert the structure into a double-circuit single monopole if future needs required it.
The Result
Because the connections were complex, new fixtures and welding techniques were developed to achieve the tighter tolerances demanded by the design. Full-scale testing confirmed the solution’s performance on the very first attempt.

This opportunity showcases our broader in-house testing capabilities. We routinely test engineered structures up to 235 feet tall with base widths of up to 12.5 feet. Our facilities are both arm-test and lattice-test capable, giving utilities the assurance that every structure has been validated under real-world conditions before it goes into service.