DemaG MOBILE Cranes has produced what it calls a Sideways Superlift attachment to increase the ability of telescopic booms to withstand side loading.
First to use the new technology was the Ulferts & Wittrock Group from Oldenburg in Germany which used an AC 500-1 (rated at 500t) equipped with Sideways Superlift to erect wind turbines in Friesoyt.
According to Klaus Wittrock of Ulferts & Wittrock: “The very first job confirmed the benefits of the new Sideways Superlift concept.” Sideways Superlift reduces the susceptibility of the boom system to the wind. And for long booms at near vertical angles, it enhances lifting capacity, automatically unfolding to reduce lateral deflection as the boom angle increases, Demag says.
Demag claims that, in general, the longer the boom configuration, the greater the increase in lifting capacity. For example, without the Sideways Superlift the AC 500-1, equipped with a 51.7m extended main boom plus 4m adapter and 90m luffing jib, can lift 3.1t. The Sideways Superlift attachment increases this value to 6t – almost doubling load capacity. For lifting heights likely to be needed for erecting wind turbines, the Sideways Superlift gives up to 50% more lifting capacity compared with the standard configuration, Demag claims.
At medium and flat boom positions, the Sideways Superlift is used in the same way as the conventional Superlift in the direction of the load, thus increasing load capacity. The Sideways Superlift has its own hydraulic cylinders to make it quick to rig. The crane can also travel on site even when fitted with the attachment.
While wind farms are not the only application where Sideways Superlift might prove its worth, it is a market that Demag is targeting. Firstly, wind farm construction is a growing market in Europe. And secondly because Sideways Superlift comes into its own in high winds – and wind farms are of course built in areas susceptible to windy weather.
The attachment is also offered as an option on the AC 650 as well as the AC 500-1.
