More information
Description
The project objective is to launch the production of a package of crane mechanics components to be used on vessels that support offshore wind farms, oil rigs and other offshore installations. Designs of these devices have already been developed in the R&D department of Winda-Warszawa in cooperation with the project’s Norwegian partner, ALIMAK Group Norway. The partner’s market research shows strong demand for innovative mechanical assemblies used in marine elevators which are exposed to extreme weather conditions and therefore require the most durable materials. In addition, plans by the Norwegian and Polish governments to install new wind turbines point to a coming “boom” in offshore wind farm construction. The resulting packages of mechanical crane components for service vessels serving wind farms (and, in the future, complete cranes) will be sold by the partner mainly on the Norwegian market.
The project involves the construction of a production and storage hall, the purchase of two production machines (a laser cutting machine and a press brake), and the introduction of a new manufacturing process for crane components at the company using new methods for performing strength analyses.
The technological innovation introduced under the project results in a number of benefits for recipients of the new elevators in the maritime industry. These include a reduction in the weight of the cranes, high static and fatigue strength, the life of the product extended to at least 20 years, the extension of the warranty period for the coating that protects the elements from corrosion from 2 to 5 years, the possibility of replacing individual elements of the structure thanks to its modularity, and the simplification of the execution of modernization of the cranes, i.e. reducing their downtime (in comparison with welded structures) by about 25%.