Heavy equipment manufacturer Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) has announced that it has completed assembly of the primary unit of the 14,000t ring crane.
This marks a major step forward in ultra-heavy lifting technology, with the crane set to offer the largest lifting capacity of its kind to date.
Developed in partnership with Sinopec Heavy Lifting & Transportation Co., the ring crane features a modular system made up of two main units designed to operate together.
According to XCMG, the first unit is now fully assembled and is capable of carrying out lifting tasks independently.
Once both main units are integrated, the crane is expected to provide a maximum lifting capacity of 14,000t, and a peak lifting moment of 700,000t-metres.
XCMG Group and XCMG Machinery chairman Yang Dongsheng said: “This crane is more than an incremental improvement; it represents a transformative leap for the global heavy-lifting industry.
“Our partnership with Sinopec has created a new integrated model spanning R&D, manufacturing and application, setting an industry benchmark for independent innovation and engineering application of major technical equipment.”
A key feature of the new crane is its electric direct-drive system. This technology allows electric power to be converted directly into motion, resulting in over 30% energy savings, a 20% increase in operational efficiency, and lower fuel costs and carbon emissions.
XCMG highlighted increasing demand for ultra-heavy lifting equipment, particularly as nuclear power projects worldwide grow in size and modularity.
The firm indicated that the new crane can be used in large-scale nuclear, conventional energy, and offshore wind projects.
In traditional energy applications, the equipment is capable of lifting large towers and vessels as single units, potentially reducing assembly and installation risks.
For nuclear construction, XCMG noted the crane’s ability to handle plant modules for two nuclear islands from a single position.
In offshore wind, the crane’s reach and load rating allow the installation of higher-capacity turbines.
Last month, XCMG Machinery supplied four more all-terrain cranes to Belgium’s Sarens Group for deployment across its European operations.
