4,000 tonne XCMG crane claims new lifting record

XCMG XCA4000 breaking a lifting record on a 200 MW Chinese wind farm construction project. Photo: XCMG

Hebei Rongcheng Technology took delivery of its 4,000 tonne capacity XCMG wheeled mobile telescopic crane and put it straight to work on a wind farm in China.

Its first lift was on the 200 MW wind farm construction project in Jing County, Hengshui. The XCA4000 hoisted turbine components, including a 130 tonne nacelle, 40 tonne hub, and all three 95 metre blades, each weighing 28 tonnes. Lifting height was where the previous record, also claimed by XCMG, fell, to a new high of 162 metres. The company claims this as the seventh time since 2010 it has outdone its own record. Last time it was the 3,000 tonne capacity XCA3000 on another Chinese wind farm in December 2023.

More, higher, faster

Turbines of 10 MW capacity and above can be accommodated by the crane’s capacity to lift 230 tonnes to a height of 170 metres. The XCA3000 lifts 190 tonnes to 160 metres.

XCMG claims its new technology and design features result in a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in turbine installation time. Safety features include more than 12 sensors on the boom to detect hazards in real-time and then the control system eliminates them.

For transport XCMG said the crane on its 11 axles can travel with its main boom and outriggers onboard, at an all up weight of 400 tonnes. Gradeability is 16 %.

The Chinese manufacturer said it had delivered more than 200 units of 1,000 tonne capacity wheeled cranes as at the end of 2023.