Recently, at the Zhuhai Deepwater Equipment Manufacturing Base, a Zoomlion 4,000-ton crawler crane, with stable and precise lifting performance throughout the process, supported the successful closure of the upper and lower structures of the first jacket for the Inch Cape European offshore wind project. The success of this key lift demonstrates the outstanding operational capability of domestically produced ultra-large crawler cranes, which can provide safe, efficient and reliable solutions for the construction of global offshore wind projects.

▲ A Zoomlion 4,000-ton crawler crane is performing the lift

It is reported that the Inch Cape European offshore wind project is the largest energy project overseas led and developed by a Chinese enterprise. Currently, the construction of the project's jackets, monopile transition pieces and supporting steel piles is underway in China. The jacket whose main structure was closed this time has a total height of 85.5 meters and a weight of about 2,362 tons, consisting of 3 jacket legs and pile grippers. The project team innovatively adopted a single-crane operation method, with the Zoomlion 4,000-ton crawler crane "shouldering the重任 alone."

Since the closure accuracy needs to be controlled at the millimeter level, how to maintain balance and achieve precise alignment of the three legs under wind influence became the biggest difficulty of this closure operation; even a slight deviation could cause the accuracy to fail to meet standards. The Zoomlion ZCC89000 crawler crane has operating capability under super-lift counterweight conditions and demonstrated excellent stability and wind resistance in the lifting of ultra-large structures. The equipment is equipped with an intelligent coordinated control system, further improving precision control during the lifting process and ensuring millimeter-level precise positioning.

▲ A Zoomlion 4,000-ton crawler crane is performing the lift

The on-site lifting team also innovatively adopted "modular pre-assembly + real-time monitoring and calibration" technology, repeatedly rehearsing and verifying the entire operation process, which not only ensured lifting accuracy but also effectively reduced the interference of wind on the lifting process. The team used guide ropes for auxiliary adjustment and, based on real-time data feedback, continuously fine-tuned the posture of the upper structure to ensure perfect fit with the lower cylinder. After hours of meticulous operation and efficient coordination, the upper and lower structures of the jacket finally achieved successful closure, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent closure construction of 17 jacket sets.

At present, the structural components of the Inch Cape European offshore wind project are being urgently manufactured and installed, with full efforts underway to sprint toward the goal of full delivery by the end of the year. Once the project is completed and put into operation, it will help reduce carbon emissions, promote the development of the global renewable energy industry, and also build a new bridge for green energy cooperation between China and Europe. Zoomlion will continue to use technological innovation as an engine, continuously break through the performance boundaries of ultra-large lifting equipment, keep making efforts in the direction of intelligence, green development and high efficiency, and participate in writing a new chapter of green development.