Eickhoff uses Kenzfigee crane for wind work

29 July 2022

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First gearbox manufacturer to use up-tower crane technology.

Bochum, Germany-headquartered gearbox manufacturer Eickhoff has taken delivery of the first new generation Heli-Hook up-tower crane made by KenzFigee, a lifting, handling and service specialist of custom equipment for the marine, offshore and wind energy industry.

With a capacity up to 3 tonnes SWL the Heli-Hook up-tower crane will be used to exchange gearbox components on wind turbines of leading wind turbine manufacturers with a hub height of maximum 140 metres.

Eickhoff will be the first gearbox manufacturer using KenzFigee’s up-tower crane technology for a safer, smarter and more efficient wind turbine gearbox repairs. According to KenzFigee, compared to the traditional cranes the Heli-Hook up-tower crane, which is fully electric, has a 75% less carbon footprint. This is possible because, unlike traditional cranes, the up-tower cranes are powered by the wind turbine itself, thus generating zero CO2. The crane is compact, lightweight and can be containerised, adds KenzFigee.

The Heli-Hook is part of the KenzFigee up-tower crane range for WTG maintenance and repairs ranging up to a SWL capacity of 70 tonnes. It is specifically designed to be placed temporarily on top of wind turbines for major component exchanges and/or repairs in a wind turbine nacelle.

"The delivery of the Heli-HookTto Eickhoff is a new milestone for our organisation. The first gearbox manufacturer to use this new crane technology for their own service centres across Europe,” says Robert de Rijcke, CCO of KenzFigee. “We wish our client Eickhoff successful and safe operations.”