Combilift has solved the logistical problems of handling and transporting oversized steel sections which form the basis of a revolutionary type of wind turbine tower developed by Danish company Andresen Towers.
Andresen’s shell towers enable the construction of much higher wind turbines which generate a larger output and in turn reduce costs. Having patented the bolted shell design and set up 25,000 m² of production and warehouse facilities, CEO Tom Andresen was faced with the challenge of efficient, safe and cost effective handling of the 14m long, 3.3m wide tower elements, a full load of which can weigh up to 30t.
Options such as mobile cranes, counterbalance forklifts or reach stackers were discounted as Tom did not want to invest in equipment that could only carry out one specific job. He was also focused on the total cost of ownership, which is becoming more of an issue than just the initial investment.
Consultation with Combilift identified a Combi-SC as the best solution for each of Andresen’s two sites. As well as the SC’s versatility, its very low axle weight results in greatly reduced ground pressure compared to other machines capable of handling similar loads, cutting out the need for expensive surface reinforcement. Each SC was adapted to take into account the varying loads on site, one model being built with a larger frame to cope with double stacked containers. The SC’s dimensions and its 3-wheel manoeuvrability enable it to access the production area to pick up crates of shells, and load onto HGV’s without the need for a crane.
Tom Andresen sums up “Our calculations based on a ten year operating lifetime included initial capital outlay, fuel consumption, service costs and the reduction in wear and tear on the surfaces and proved that we could achieve major operational savings compared to using any other type of equipment. One of our major goals was to offer a competitive price, and key to this was always going to be better logistics, transportation and storage. By combining our expertise with that of Combilift we have achieved all we set out to, within an impressively short time frame.”
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