SAC40000T, the world’s first nine-axle 4,000-ton all-terrain crane, successfully completed its inaugural lift at the 200,000-kilowatt wind power project in Pingchuan, Baiyin, Gansu Province on November, 2023. Now owned by Zhejiang Hesheng Hoisting Company, the SAC40000T demonstrated its unparalleled performance and flexibility on this challenging project.
Tackling Complex Requirements with Ease
The project involved the installation of a 6.25MW wind turbine with a hub height of 120 meters. The nacelle alone weighed 150 tons, and with rigging, the total lifting weight reached 180 tons. While this was quite within the SAC40000T’s capacity, the real reason for choosing this crane lay in its unique nine-axle maneuverability.
Located in a mountainous area with steep slopes and sharp turns, the site presented significant logistical and operational challenges. The turbine tower center was just 40 meters from a cliff edge, which means the crane had to turn within an extremely narrow space. As Project Manager Du Weihui explained, “With its lifting capacity and flexibility, this crane is ideal for this complex site.”
Unmatched Efficiency and Flexibility
The SAC40000T’s outstanding performance went beyond its compact dimensions. The crane’s assembly, transport, and operational efficiencies were highly praised by the project team:
· Rapid Assembly: The superlift system was assembled in just one hour. Equipment Manager Zhang Jie noted, “This was our first time assembling it, and we’re confident it will take less than an hour in the future.”
· Seamless Mobility: Designed for demanding terrains, the SAC40000T supports various transport configurations. For this project, it carried its outriggers, the first two boom sections, and the telescopic cylinder while traversing 2.5 kilometers of continuous S-curves with a maximum gradient of 30%. This capability significantly reduced the need for time-intensive disassembly and reassembly during transitions.
· Exceptional Work Efficiency: The fifth tower section hoisting was finished in 14 minutes, and the nacelle installation took only 19 minutes, setting new benchmarks for operational speed.
Reflecting on the crane’s inaugural lift, Zhejiang Hesheng Hoisting’s General Manager Sun Lei remarked, “The nine-axle crane with large booms is flexible, especially in such mountainous areas. Even in such a limited workspace, the crane was assembled in just four hours. Its user-friendly design saves substantial assembly time, especially its the superlift assembly which took only an hour for two superlift to assemble.
Post time: Dec-26-2024