Sarens unveils 5th giant crane

The new fully electric Sarens SGC-170 super heavy lift ring crane lifts 3,200 tonnes. Image: Sarens

International heavy lift and transport specialist Sarens has unveiled the latest addition to its line of super heavy lift ring cranes.

The 3,200 tonne capacity SGC-170 is an all-electric giant. It slots into the fleet below the Belgium-based company’s range-topping 5,000 tonne capacity SGC-250. That giant is working on site in the UK at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction project for EDF Energy.

The latest Sarens Giant Crane (SGC) has a maximum load moment rating of 170,000 tonne-metres (hence the 170 in the nomenclature). Its main boom can be up to 155 metres long. With a jib it can lift 1,300 tonnes to a height of more than 200 metres, Sarens said.

On main boom at a radius of 120 metres the capacity is 739 tonnes. With the same boom at a 40 metre radius capacity is 1,150 tonnes.

Efficiency, transportability and adaptability were key considerations in the brief for the new crane, designed in-house by the same team responsible for the other SGCs.

Sarens SGC super heavy lift ring cranes on the dock in Belgium. Image: Sarens

Clean power

A major difference from most of the other cranes of its type is that this one is all-electric. Its modular drivetrain was designed by Sarens. “Ten years ago, plugging a crane like this into the grid would’ve been unthinkable,” said Matthias Sarens, head of design.

“Now, we’ve built a machine that’s not only more efficient and sustainable, but one that’s ready for the most demanding jobs, anywhere in the world,” Sarens continued.

An energy recovery system sees energy from lowering a load put back into slewing, boom up/down or hoisting. It can also be fed back into the grid, helping to reduce electricity consumption by as much as 40 per cent, Sarens said.

It was designed with larger components and fewer connections to help speed up assembly and disassembly. When it needs to be relocated on site there is a reinforced frame to allow this to be done in less than a week.

The outer ring diameter is 38.5 metres and the crane runs around it on bogies with a total of 64 wheels.