Blade lifter moves turbines

Heavy haulage specialist Hofmann has successfully used the Cometto 1,000 tonne-metre capacity BladeMAX1000 blade lifter for the first time for a wind farm project near Zerf, Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.

Photo: Faymonville

The 12 axle self-propelled Cometto MSPE combination was used to transport 81 metre long turbine blades along narrow rural roads and through dense forest to the Zerfer Schneeberg site.

Route challenges included several tight S-curves and a steep crest.

“The system automatically balances the four support groups across all 48 electronically steered wheels,” explained Joachim Kolb, sales manager at Cometto. “The operator can focus on the essential tasks - driving and steering this imposing combo - with reduced strain.”

Cometto said the system also stops the vehicle from shaking when the blade is tilted 60 degrees into the wind.

Photo: Faymonville

When the 15 blades and towers convoy reached the site, the equipment was handed over to a Liebherr LR1800 crawler crane for assembly.

The wind farm features five Nordex turbines, each with a 5.7 megawatt capacity and is expected to produce approximately 81 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually.

“We’re pleased that everything promised beforehand was delivered exactly as expected. Our expectations were exceeded, and with this equipment, we’re looking to the future with confidence,” said Dieter Abt from Hofmann.

Photo: Faymonville