Company insight
Heavy transport solutions that can handle any length
Tracing its history all the way back to 1705, Goldhofer is a global leader in the development of robust and effective solutions in multi-modal transport for a range of industries, key among them being the wind energy market.
uch has been made of the ever- increasing size of wind turbines, but less focus has been given to those responsible for transporting these components, whether that’s port or in-house handling or delivering them to their final destinations. Today’s turbine blades, particularly for the larger offshore models, can easily be longer than football fields, presenting considerable challenges when it comes to moving them from place to place. Goldhofer is a world leader in heavy transportation solutions for the wind industry, and its range of extremely flexible and reliable transport systems is invaluable for both onshore and offshore projects, serving one of the few manufacturers capable of providing a full range of heavy transport equipment for its customers. However, these different settings naturally require very different solutions. Offshore components are typically much heavier, with offshore turbines frequently reaching much larger sizes than their land-based counterparts and most of the transportation being carried out by ship. On land, offshore components mostly only require transport solutions for in-house or port handling.
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“Because of this, we need different equipment for both for onshore and offshore,” he notes.
Flexibility, manoeuvrability and reliability Goldhofer’s wide portfolio of solutions provides options for transporting every part of a wind turbine. Starting with turbine blades, for example, it’s fleet of extendable flatbed semi-trailers handle extreme lengths with control and manoeuvrability. The company’s SPZ range is designed to comfortably transport blade lengths of more than 55m, with the GP model boasting a pendular axis that grants the semi-trailer a steering axis of 60°, enabling transportation around narrow bends and even through developed areas. For longer blades, the Ventum model is specifically designed with five extension stages to take loads of more than 72m – making it capable of handling the blades of most of the largest onshore turbines today. With turbines growing even larger, however, blades are likely to grow longer still, which is why Goldhofer has developed its FTV range of self-steering trailers that can transport blades of up
“The highest priority is that we can guarantee our customers that they have a transporter that can deliver any and all components safely from the harbour to the wind farms.”
Tobias Leschensky
Onshore components, on the other hand, need to be transported to the wind farms inland. As Tobias Leschensky, area sales manager at Goldhofer, explains: “That means we are on highways, we are on land roads – we also have to focus on street regulations and everything else.”
to almost any length – indeed, the FTV 550 has been tested hundreds of times throughout Europe delivering blades of up to 100m and over. “[The Ventum can handle] up to 72m, so you’re limited. That’s why we also developed another kind of solution – a
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www.worldwind-technology.com
self-steering trailer,” Leschensky says. “From the front of the tractor unit to the back, [there are] no inner tubes, no extension tubes – you just have the back of the trailer, and on this you have the clamps, upon which the tip of the blade is mounted. That means you can use it for shorter blades, and then you can have blades that are 100m – we even have it over 100m at the moment.”
Of course, there are other components that also need to be transported. Goldhofer’s STL range of low-loader trailers are perfectly suited for transporting components like hubs, nacelles, generators and transformers. And when it comes to heavy transport solutions for plants or manufacturing site operations, or for use at ports when dealing with offshore monopiles or towers, Goldhofer has developed the PST/ SL-E and the PST/ES-E – self-propelled heavy-duty modules that can easily overcome inclines and can be combined with other Goldhofer modules in an open combination format for extra flexibility. With such a wide range of solutions, its vital that Goldhofer stays ahead of its customers’ developing needs, which is why it maintains strong connections with all the major players across the wind energy industry, taking feedback on how its transport offerings can improve or better adapt to changing requirements. “The highest priority is that we can guarantee our customers that they have a transporter that can deliver any and all components safely from the harbour to the wind farms, without any issues or problems,” concludes Leschensky. “We’re always looking at what comes next with future projects, so we can make the right innovations – and be the first in the race.” ●
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