Nooteboom launches Super Wing Carrier XL trailer

Acting as a guinea pig for the new trailer Laso Transportes, based in Portugal, tested it out in application. It takes delivery of a second unit in April. Photo: Nooteboom

Dutch specialized transport equipment manufacturer Nooteboom has launched the Super Wing Carrier XL for long wind turbine rotor blades.

Nooteboom Trailers’ latest offering is four-times extendable to cope with the blades now exceeding 85 metres long.

Designated SWC-91-24V(QP), the new SWC-XL series trailer offers additional length and payload capacity without compromising stability, Nooteboom said.

A new technology incorporated into the new trailer is Nooteboom’s patented Wing Shaped Beam. This design element allows a low transport height behind the gooseneck, where the root end of the blade is loaded.

Where the blades are still getting longer their overall weight also increases. To accommodate this there is a 2-axle jeep dolly for an 8 x 4 truck tractor. At the rear end there are four axle lines with pendular suspension.

Nooteboom has announced its new Super Wing Carrier XL for transporting the ever longer blades for wind turbines. Photo: Nooteboom

Longer and longer blades

Behind the gooseneck the load deck can be extended incrementally to more than 75 metres. With the trailer unloaded extra filler plates can be added to change the curve so when loaded it matches the shape of the blade and maximises ground clearance while minimising overall height.

Most of the extra weight of the longer blades is at the root end so this also has to be allowed for. The steering system is in the jeep dolly chassis rather than the gooseneck to improve stability on the road. This is also helped by the rear axle bogie being 2,840 mm wide.

Manoeuvrability is improved by the freely rotating Jeep dolly and the 60 degree steering angle of the pendular axles. To help negotiate obstacles the gooseneck stroke is 1,600 mm and the suspension travel is 600 mm on the rear axles.

Extending and shortening the trailer is made easier and quicker using the hydraulic support legs operated via a remote control. To minimise the risk of damage the hydraulic hoses and electrical cables running the length of the trailer do so inside the main chassis rails. In addition, they automatically adjust according to the length of the trailer.

A further benefit of the new trailer is that the rotor blades are not carried in separate frames as they can be loaded directly onto the trailer.

See the new Super Wing Carrier XL for the first time at the Bauma trade show in Munich, Germany, 7 to 13 April on Nooteboom stand FN.720/10.