Grove GMK6400-1 breathes new life into wind turbine in Germany

• Schmidbauer used its Grove GMK6400-1 to replace bearings on all three blades of a wind turbine in Denklingen, Germany.
• The crane worked with 135 t ballast, 54.6 m main boom, 73 m luffing jib, and the MegaWingLift™ attachment to effortlessly lift 9 t loads at a 39 m radius.
• A combination of perfect planning, powerful lifting technology, and a well-coordinated team, meant the whole project was completed in just three days.

In the Denklingen area of Bavaria, German crane rental company Schmidbauer completed a demanding and time-critical wind turbine project. The company used its Grove GMK6400-1 to replace the bearings on all three turbine blades. The work included the removal of the rotor blades, the dismantling and refurbishment of the bearings, and their reinstallation - a process requiring maximum precision and absolute reliability.

The GMK6400-1, which joined the Schmidbauer fleet in April 2024, was configured with 135 t of ballast and a 54.6 m main boom. In addition, it was rigged with the MegaWingLift™ capacity-enhancing attachment and a 73 m luffing jib. In this configuration, the six-axle crane easily handled the maximum loads of up to 9 t at a 39 m radius, lifting to a hook height of 123 m. The perfect combination of powerful Grove technology, efficient planning, precise processes, and a well-coordinated team, meant the work was completed in just three days - ahead of schedule and impressive proof of the speed, accuracy, and strength of the crane.

"This job shows what is possible when technology, experience, and teamwork come together seamlessly. Our GMK6400-1 offers exactly the performance needed for complex wind energy applications. The fact that we were able to replace the blade bearings in only three days underscores the efficiency of our processes and the expertise of our team," said Florian Zech, technical sales consultant at Schmidbauer.