On October 31, SANY made history by delivering the world's first 9-axle, 4,000-tonne all-terrain crane, the SAC40000T, to a Chinese hoisting company. Designed with the largest lifting capacity on the fewest axles, this crane sets a new benchmark in the industry.
Powering the future of wind energy
The SAC40000T features an 81 m full-extension boom plus a 124 m jib, tailored specifically for wind turbine installation. It is equipped with 350 t counterweights and offers a maximum lifting height of 200 m. It can lift 375 t to 100 m high at an 18 m radius, and 200 t to 185 m high at a 30 m radius — ideally suited to the demands of next-generation turbines.
In describing the crane's development, the product manager shared: "We know there's a growing need for powerful, precise equipment to drive clean energy forward. Current 2000 t class cranes can handle 7-8 MW turbines. But 10-13 MW turbines over the next 5-10 years? That's why we bring a 4,000 t all-terrain crane to the table. Prioritizing a compact, powerful design with fewer axles, we've enhanced its flexibility and ease of travel on rugged, mountainous terrain."
Big lift, compact design
Built on a 9-axle 22 m long chassis — the shortest in its class — this crane has a 16 m steering radius, the smallest of any comparable model. With a robust 6+2 dual-drive system, it achieves a gradeability of up to 18%, enabling it to navigate slopes even with the boom onboard. Custom heavy-duty axles and 605 tires also allow it to travel on-site with the superlift structure attached, giving it an edge in efficiency and terrain adaptability.
Set up fast, get it done
Designed for rapid assembly, the SAC40000T completes single-side superlift setup and disassembly in under an hour. Its advanced reeving-aid winch system brings reeving time down to under 70 minutes. When installed with a 76 m jib and under, the boom can luff up without auxiliary equipment, and with its dual winches, it lifts 230 t loads to 170 m in under 25 minutes, accelerating workflow in high-demand situations.
Smart safety, every lift
With intelligent boom status monitoring and active control systems, the SAC40000T ensures safety during ultra-long boom operations. Real-time side-bending angle monitoring alerts operators to potential hazards, while a new signal receiver increases signal stability by 20%. An upgraded high-capacity battery also doubles the crane's operational endurance.
Achieving the capacity of 4,000 tonnes without expanding the chassis, SANY's SAC40000T represents a milestone in heavy lifting, setting a new standard for high-capacity, compact all-terrain cranes with its record-breaking 9-axle configuration and class-leading maneuverability.
Wind farms are moving toward taller towers and larger rotors, which pushes lifting height and capacity beyond the 2,000-tonne class. A compact nine-axle design that travels with superlift attached answers the rental industry's main complaint: the hours lost dismantling and relocating cranes between mountain turbine sites.
