The Netherlands-headquartered heavy-duty trailer manufacturer Nooteboom has expanded its wind turbine transporter range with the Mega Windmill Trailer XXL (MWT-XXL).
The MWT-XXL is more versatile than previous equipment. While the second-generation MWT-XL could already handle large tower segments (inner diameter up to approximately 5,700 mm), the third-generation MWT-XXL can transport an even wider range of tower segments (with an inner diameter of approximately 2,850-6,100mm) without needing adjustments to the mounting frame.
Nooteboom explained that this is achieved through a double, hydraulically height-adjustable A-frame. The load is clamped using a three-point system, something that Nooteboom claims will allow for the easiest operation and shortest loading/unloading times on the market. Load capacity is approximately 100 tonnes and the empty trailer remains well below 4 m in height.
As wind turbine components become larger, the height of the centre of gravity also increases, requiring additional stability measures for safe transport. In addition to standard theoretical calculations, Nooteboom conducted stability tests at the RDW test track in Lelystad, examining the differences in road behaviour between air suspension and hydraulic suspension. These tests revealed that the new 2.84 m-wide Nooteboom self-steered dolly with air suspension is at least as stable as a comparable trailer with hydraulic suspension and pendulum axles. Moreover, with air suspension, the driver receives a visible warning in advance as the vehicle starts to lean over.
The manufacturer added that the air suspension on the new MWT-XXL allows for easier operations, low maintenance costs and a low deadweight, ensuring that the total weight of the loaded combination generally remains below 150 tonnes. Additionally, when an air-suspended axle compresses fully due to large road irregularities, pressure remains in the suspension system, allowing other axles to continue bearing the load. In such situations with hydraulic suspension, the pressure in the suspension system is lost and the compressed axle is much more overloaded.
A new option on the Nooteboom MWT-XXL is adjustable hooks that clamp the tower at the base. These hooks are adjustable, enabling the safe loading and transport of tower sections with flanges that are thicker, thinner, or significantly different in shape without additional tools. The latest MWT-XXL comes standard with a 2.84 m-wide self-steered dolly, but Nooteboom can also supply the MWT for smaller diameters with a 2.55 m-wide self-steered dolly. This narrower dolly takes up less road space and remains under the legally permissible vehicle width when empty, which is advantageous for obtaining permits in several European countries.
Poland’s Transannaberg put the first Nooteboom MWT-XXL into operation.
