/ Building the world's first fiber rope crane
When you need to lift a 150-ton gadget from a depth of 4,000 meters, MacGregor has just what you need.
Large offshore cranes, which MacGregor specializes in, traditionally use thick steel cables as ropes. Steel weighs a lot, so the lifting capacity of the crane is effectively reduced in deeper waters because much of the lifting capacity is used to lift the steel wire itself. On the new crane, the steel wire rope is replaced by fiber rope, which not only weighs less, but floats in water and thus does not strain the overall lifting capacity of the crane.
A traditional crane with a 150-ton lifting capacity cannot lift more than 40-50 tons at a depth of 4000 meters, because 4000 meters of steel wire rope alone weighs over 100 tons. But an equivalent fiber rope crane can lift 150 tons at a depth of 4000 meters, because the rope weighs virtually nothing.
Revolutionary technology
Working with subcontractors, MacGregor has developed solutions that overcome technical challenges, such as heat generation, that have so far prevented the widespread use of fiber rope on large cranes. The properties of the rope allow the cranes to be installed on smaller ships, which are faster and cheaper to build and operate than large ships. DNV-GL has also been involved throughout and both the technology and the crane will be fully certified according to their latest regulations.
The fiber rope crane is the latest in a series of innovations from MacGregor Norway. The company, which is headquartered in Arendal and has a large branch in Kristiansand, has won several international innovation awards in recent years.
The dimensions of MacGregor's new fiber rope crane are enormous, according to former CEO Høye G. Høyesen (left) and VP Business Development Ingvar Apeland of MacGregor Norway. Photo: Arne Roger Janse
Research and development
MacGregor Norway has and has had several research and development collaborations, including with the University of Agder and the Mechatronics Innovation Lab, and has also participated in several development projects with other companies in the same industry. The company has invested heavily in expertise, research and innovation. When it comes to lifting technology, there are few areas in the world with more expertise than the Kristiansand region. The company is also a world leader in loading and unloading solutions for the oil and gas industry.
Leading expertise is not only behind MacGregor's fiber rope crane, but also the company's anchoring solutions for the world's first floating wind farm, the world's first offshore crane with motion compensation in three dimensions and motion compensated walkways for offshore wind. The high level of expertise in Southern Norway has led the MacGregor Group to place all its offshore solutions under MacGregor Norway. This is a tribute from a worldwide group.
