News Release
Wiesbauer’s GTK1100 builds 50th wind mill in record time
9/28/2011
A GTK1100 assembled three 2 MW wind turbines in just nine days. The project included mast erection and nacelle and rotor blade installation. For crane owner Wiesbauer, it also marked the 50th turbine assembly by this GTK1100 in the last four years. The crane has also worked on a range of industrial and energy projects during the same time period.
Jochen Wiesbauer, managing director of the company, said the crane has been consistently busy over the past four years.
“The GTK is the most efficient way to install a wind turbine,” he said. “It offers the best combination of capacity and overall ease-of-use. It is simple to transport, quick to setup and can erect a wind turbine in just three days – with very little support. There are virtually no complications in running and owning a GTK1100, which allows us to work on more jobs in less time.”
The project took place in the southern German town of Frieberg. After arriving on site with only five trailers, the GTK1100 was erected in less than one day. Its unique outrigger configuration does not require counterweight and made it easier to rig for the heavy lifts.
The crane was designed to require minimal ground preparation, and it has a footprint of only
18 m x 18 m. In addition, the crane’s design and vertical tower make it far more wind resistant
than traditional mobile cranes.
To construct the wind turbines in Frieberg, the GTK1100 first lifted the four mast sections into position. Each section weighed up to 65 t, and together, the sections created a 95 m tall mast. With the mast complete, the 68 t nacelles were lifted to over 100 m so they could be installed on top of the masts. Finally, for the installation of the nine rotor blades, Wiesbauer used one of its 220 t capacity GMK5220 all-terrain cranes as an assist crane. The assist crane helped the GTK maneuvering the 38 t loads into position.
Wiesbauer sent a team of just four people to carry out the installation work. The client was Abo Wind AG.
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (“Manitowoc”) was founded in 1902 and has over a 117-year tradition of providing high-quality products and support services that are tailored to customers’ needs. Its 2019 net sales were approximately $1.83 billion. Manitowoc is one of the world's leading providers of engineered lifting solutions. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Manitowoc designs, manufactures, markets and supports comprehensive product lines of mobile telescopic cranes, tower cranes, lattice-boom crawler cranes, boom trucks and industrial cranes under the Grove, Potain, Manitowoc, National Crane, Shuttlelift and Manitowoc Crane Care brand names.