Axzion -  Upending Tool
The world‘s largest gripper  4.5 m - 6.5 m

Wind energy systems‘ monopiles are getting larger and heavier as, in future, they will have to be installed in areas with deeper water. The Axzion Upending Tool, the world‘s largest gripper, has been developed for these extremely heavy monopiles. Thanks to cutting-edge control technology and variable functionality it is possible to safely grip and upend even the largest monopiles. The three huge grippers of the attachment tool each feature four toothed gripper jaws that have been adapted in diameter to firmly grip the monopiles, which, in turn, can individually weigh anything up to around 1,500 metric tonnes.

The huge monopiles‘ walls are thin in relation to their maximum diameter of up to 6 metres. It is necessary to carefully grip the steel tubes; simple hook designs may deform the pile. The Axzion Upending Tool features three arms and thus reliably prevents any pile deformation. The rotor star can be hydraulically pivoted to enable both horizontally and vertically positioned piles to be gripped and easily upended using a tilting mechanism.

Each of the arms features two, hydraulically powered gripper tongs. Grippers are also mechanically selflocking, meaning that in the event the drive fails, the unit guarantees components are securely held. The top pair of tongs can be moved hydraulically, which makes different gripping strategies adapted to the load possible and also means that the component is capable of gripping deformed tubes. The Axzion Upending Tool is freely variable to pile diameters of between 4.5 to 6.5 metres.

Cutting-edge control systems suitable for off-shore applications is a must. Individual movements are synchronised by a PLC control unit. Operation using the remote control is simple – incorrect operation is avoided thanks to intelligent locking systems. The gripper can optionally send all functions and sensor messages to a WiFi panel which also makes external control interventions possible (e.g. emergency or „Catch the Pile“ functions). Four high-performance cameras with powerful LED spotlights wirelessly transmit crisp images to the split-screen monitor so that crane drivers can identify the exact position of individual gripper tongs.

All drives have been installed with backups – safe and reliable functionality is a must. The Axzion Upending Tool features a dual hydraulic drive and two powerful, marine diesel generators. Should one unit fail, the second system will guarantee unrestricted operational readiness.