SPMT moves crawler between wind turbines

UK-headquartered heavy lift and transportation specialist ALE is using SPMT to move a 750 tonne capacity Manitowoc 18000 lattice boom crawler crane between wind turbine towers at the Loma Blanca wind farm project in Patagonia, Argentina.

ALE is using the crawler to install 16 wind turbine generators. The roads between the installation sites, however, are too narrow for the crane to travel along so ALE is mounting it on 36 axle lines of generation 3 SPMT in a 4 file 18 configuration. The SPMT fits within the limitations of the road enabling the crane to be transported whole. This, it says, is saving much time compared to disassembling it, moving it and then reassembling it.

”By using our in-house expertise from our Argentina branch, as well as wind experts from ALE – Wind Services, we could adapt the crane and increase our installation capacity,” said Andres Crespo, ALE’s engineering manager. ”Equally, by choosing a different methodology to our competitors and avoiding the need to disassemble and reassemble for every lift, we provided the most cost-effective option possible which also reduced operational costs. We are progressing well with the project schedule thanks to this solution.”