Terex TRT 35 at South African wind farm

Midrand, South Africa-based crane company Concord Cranes has used its Terex TRT 35 rough terrain crane for a windfarm project, the Coleskop Wind Farm, in a remote, rugged and mountainous part of Northern Cape, South Africa.

It took Concord Cranes 15 hours to transport the crane from Cape Town to the windfarm site in Noupoort using a three-axle lowbed.

On site the cranes are moving concrete slabs to facilitate the project's groundwork and then positioning 26 electrical poles required to channel energy from the wind turbines to the power station.

According to Terex, Concord Cranes’s engineers specifically selected the TRT 35 for a number of reasons.

Key was its ability to navigate and operate in the tough environment of Coleskop Wind Farm with its steep gradients and uneven ground conditions.

The crane’s width of 2.5m and a choice of four steering options enable it to tackle rugged terrain where conventional road infrastructure is absent, says Terex.

Being in a semi-desert region the cranes also have to endure a challenging climate defined by low rainfall, arid air, cloudless skies, and extremes of heat and cold between summer and winter.

For the work the TRT 35 has a 22m main boom and a Cummins four-cylinder engine with Eco Mode function – designed to provide high power combined with optimised consumption.

With regards to its drive, the crane has Terex’s Powershift (permanent four-wheel drive) which can be switched between manual mode (with three speeds forward and three speeds reverse) and automatic mode (with five speeds forward and three speeds reverse) to suit the driver’s style.

Operation is via Terex’s TEOS (Terex Operating System) control system with 10" touchscreen display.

The manoeuvrability of the crane is also helping Concord overcome challenges such as accessing units and handling the semi-fragile electrical poles, says Terex.

“Despite the demanding conditions the crane is exhibiting exceptional reliability with no breakdowns, loose wires, or blown fuses since its deployment,” said Chester Rawstron, sales manager at Concord Cranes. “The TRT 35 boasts a capacity that exceeds our project requirements, ensuring the successful execution of lifting tasks with ease. Its smooth mobility enhances the work rate, impressing our client with its effectiveness in movement and operation. We appreciated the support of Terex Rough Terrain Cranes, who were reliable and forthcoming with technical expertise, assisting us with the servicing of the machine in its remote location. The crane's performance aligns with the project's long-term goals, minimising attention to troubleshooting and maximising productivity.”

Bertrand Guillaume, sales manager, Terex Rough Terrain Cranes, said, "The TRT 35 has exceeded expectations in terms of performance and reliability at Coleskop Wind Farm. Its rugged design and advanced features make it an invaluable asset for projects in demanding environments. We are proud to contribute to the success of the Coleskop Wind Farm and we look forward to continued collaboration in support of South Africa's renewable energy future."

 The TRT35 has been in operation at the wind farm since the beginning of August 2023 and is scheduled to continue there until September 2024.

Coleskop represents one of three South African wind farm projects that have deployed a TRT35. Together with the other sites ¬ Phezukomoya and San Kraal – the project plans to produce a total capacity of 420 MW as part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program to supply 420,000 consumers on the country’s national grid.