New Clamps Let Mammoet Haul Wider Wind Tower Sections

Feb. 2, 2022 - Mammoet has purchased its first set of ultra-wide onshore wind tower clamps, and will receive three more sets before the end of Q1 2022.

This additional flexibility means that fewer modifications are necessary to verges, street furniture, or bridges during onshore wind transport projects. It also allows new, larger wind turbine generators to reach remote sites more efficiently.

As developers seek to make the most of wind farm locations, turbines have grown taller to reach stronger, uninterrupted winds. Consequently, the base sections of towers have widened, from about 14.8’ just a few years ago to over 19.7’ today.

So, their center of gravity during transport has risen higher from the ground, as much as 4.9’ higher than earlier models. Beyond 14.8’, conventional trailers are considered not stable enough to perform transport of the largest tower models safely.

For these larger tower sections, the only alternative has been to transport them on top of a trailer with hydraulic suspension. However, that combination needs crane loading and unloading, is far less maneuverable, and has a ride height 3.9’ higher than a clamp solution; well within striking distance of bridges.

This new system, fabricated by Greiner, is installed on turntables between a mixture of an air suspension jeep-dolly and conventional multi-axle hydraulic trailers in the rear, forming a modular vehicle capable of completing narrow sequences of turns without leaving the road surface.

Like other clamp systems, the new system can receive tower sections directly from supports - no cranes are required at any stage of the journey. During projects, it will be used to transport the lower, wider tower sections, while higher, thinner sections will be transported by existing clamp systems.

The new system transports up to 20.7’-wide tower sections at lower overall heights than conventional trailers, and is already in active use. As the world transitions to more sustainable energy sources, Mammoet will continue to invest in equipment that makes this work safer and more efficient to undertake.