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Cranes: A Critical Part of the Wind Power Industry

By Paul Fleming

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Published: 08Nov2009
Word count: 519
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The future of energy generation in the United States is rapidly moving away from traditional fossil fuels to incorporate a variety of alternative methods. Among those most promising is wind power. Many across the county have come to recognize these seemingly mammoth structures with little thought as to how they are erected or the effort necessary to construct such a piece equipment. That's where cranes come in.

Cranes have been the heavy lifters through the centuries. Dating back to the ancient Greeks, cranes were originally human or animal powered machines use to construct tall buildings. Over time, different types of cranes were developed for many different purposes including small jib cranes used inside workshops, tower cranes used for constructing high buildings and large floating cranes used to build oil rigs and salvage sunken ships. Cranes have developed over time to adapt to their use.

Among the many types of cranes developed over time, the Crawler crane has become critical to the success of the wind power industry. A Crawler is a crane mounted on an undercarriage with a set of tracks that provide stability and mobility. With a capacity of 40 to 3,500 US tons, a typical Crawler used in windmill construction has a boom length of 220' and a 450 ton capacity. Crawler cranes are the work horses of the wind power industry and are essential in efficiently erecting the wind turbines found on many wind farms.

There is a wide variety of Crawlers used in assembling today's wind farm turbines. In the United States, the Manitowoc Model 16000 Crawler is the crane of choice for windmill construction. Requiring 19 tractor trailers to be moved into position, assembly of the Manitowoc 16000 is no small task. In addition, a 90 ton Rough Terrain crane must be used to assist in the Crawler's assembly. Rough Terrain cranes manufactured by Grove are popular for this purpose because they have the capacity and can be customized for lifting all components necessary for constructing both the Crawler crane and the wind turbines themselves.

Companies that sell, rent and service cranes like the Manitowoc Model 16000 and Grove cranes are an important part in helping our country move away from fossil fuels to embrace wind power. As the recent economic stimulus package suggests, those that offer the skill, knowledge and ability to service these pieces of equipment will continue to play an important role. One such company is Harrisburg Pennsylvania's Stephenson Equipment, Inc., which has already been serving the wind power industry for years. Stephenson Equipment sells, rents and services all types of construction and lifting equipment necessary to build and maintain the United States' wind energy infrastructure. Having a deep knowledge and understanding of how this equipment can be used to effectively enhance the country's power grid make companies like Stephenson Equipment invaluable.

In conclusion, wind power is a promising alternative energy source that simply would not be possible without the use of cranes. As the United States continues to move beyond fossil fuels, the humble crane and those that support it will be at the forefront of technology powering the country to a new tomorrow.

Paul Fleming represents Dennis Heller who is CEO of Stephenson Equipment, Inc. and has extensive experience in lifting and construction equipment . Stephenson Equipment handles all facets of the business necessary to service the wind power industry, including lifting equipment rentals parts and equipment operator training. With service available 24/7, Stephenson has the staff, knowledge, experience and inventory to support any construction project, wind power or otherwise.

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