24.08.2015

First Manitowoc MLC650

The first 650/700 tonne Manitowoc MLC650 has been delivered to Bigge Crane and Rigging and went straight to work for Broomfield, Colorado-based Renewable Energy Systems America, to erect wind turbines at the Pleasant Valley Wind Farm near Austin, Minnesota.

The company is using the new crane to erect 18 towers on the 200MW site, which is due for completion at the end of the year.

Unveiled last year at Conexpo last year, the new crane features a Variable Position Counterweight (VPC) system and is configured with almost 104 metres of main boom plus 7.5 metres of offset upper boom, and just 296 tonnes of counterweight. The crane is lifting prefabricated wind tower sections and nacelles weighing up to 107 tonnes. It is also erecting the blades that weigh 11.3 tonnes to heights of up to 90 metres. The VPC system automatically positions the crane’s counterweight to suit each lift, while keeping the machine balanced over its tracks.
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The first Manitowoc MLC650 goes to work

Bigge chief executive Weston Settlemier said: “Moving forward, we expect the wind turbine market to demand the MLC650 over the current offering of crawler cranes, because the VPC saves time and money. The crane’s technology reduces erection time, point loading of crawlers and the ground preparation required by the wind turbine erection contractor, it also allows increased travel speeds and lowers transportation costs”.
“The MLC650 has a smaller, live mast, making it easier to move around the job site. Power lines are often found on wind farm sites that require cranes with fixed masts to be disassembled so they can move underneath them. The MLC650’s mast doesn’t require as much disassembly to lower its height, meaning less prep and down time.

Bigge leasing manager John Krane added: “One of the MLC650’s biggest selling points for me is its larger wire rope and greater line pull. It can work with six parts of line, rather than eight. Making the crane much faster, and enabling us to complete this job in a shorter amount of time. Also, it doesn’t need an assist crane to raise its boom, again saving us time and money.”
After the MLC650 completes the Pleasant Valley project it will head to Ardmore, Oklahoma, where it will work on a similar wind farm project for RES.
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The Manitowoc MLC650 with its variable counterweight does note require a large back mast