XCA2600, the world’s largest tonnage all-terrain crane developed by XCMG, has successfully completed the first test lift, a 173-ton weight, ahead of being delivered to a wind farm next month.
The XCA2600 is equipped with three core technologies: high-performance flexible boom, super-lifting and independent suspension. As well as hoisting a weight of 173 tons, the XCA2600 can reach a lifting height of 160 meters, which is 20 percent higher than products of the same class. With a main boom length of 68.6m and a jib length of 110m, the maximum lifting height of XCA2600 can reach 173m.
In addition, the model is also the world’s first crane to be equipped with a 10-axle chassis, and it can be interchanged with the XCC2600, the world’s largest tonnage telescopic boom crawler crane. The XCA2600 body is 50 cm shorter than the industry average, while the minimum ground clearance is 200 mm higher, allowing for better operational flexibility.
Matt Mollross is the national crane manager for XCMG and is excited by the potential of this crane and what it could do for the renewable space.
“The crane is expected to be used on wind farms in Australia, we are seeing these projects getting bigger and bigger so the demands for a crane of this size is great in the renewable sector,” Mollross said.
“The new generation wind farms coming out in the energy sector across the globe are pushing the boundaries of the current cranes, XCMG took on the opportunity to develop a 2600 tonne crane to meet these requirements.
In terms of super-lifting and tensioning, the newly developed XCA2600 boom features active control and hoisting risk prediction technologies to ensure quick and safe operation. Its 3.5 meter-wide chassis, in conjunction with the patented independent suspension system and live axle, ensures the stability of the vehicle.
In addition to industry-leading functionality and performance capabilities, the new model is more efficient for major wind turbine installation projects by tailoring to the specific needs of various construction environments and scenarios.
“We have had an in principal road approval for Queensland which was a big moment for us to know that we can bring it into the country,” Mollross said.
Shan Zenghai is the Chief Engineer of XCMG Cranes and spoke about some of the challenges the manufacturer faced when developing this crane.
“It can be difficult for large cranes to successfully strike a balance between achieving great lifting capability and traveling around conveniently, especially for those that need to install wind turbines at a height of 160 meters,” Zenghai said.
“To achieve this requires technological innovation and a dedication to customers and their height, accessibility and safety needs.”
XCMG has made significant progress in developing large-tonnage all-terrain cranes in the last decade, from 800 tons ten years ago to 2,600 tons today. The company has currently sold a total of 126 units of super wheel cranes with tonnage greater than 1,200 tons, which have installed over 15,000 wind turbines.
“The first of two have come off the production line in China which was a momentous occasion for the company to have such a large capacity crane make it all the way through and roll of the line,” Mollross said.
“XCMG has plans for an even greater capacity all terrain crane currently in the works which is an exciting moment once again to see how far they can go with it,” he said