The largest plate-bending machine in Poland starts operation in Gdańsk Shipyard
The largest plate-bending machine in Poland has begun operation in Gdańsk Shipyard. This is just the beginning of a new production process, planned to double the current wind turbine tower production capacity. It is also the first major investment on the Shipyard premises since 2010, the company said in its press release.
Thanks to the MCB 3090WT plate-bending machine, it will be possible to double the number of wind turbine towers currently produced. At present, GSG Towers – a member of the Gdańsk Shipyard Group – can manufacture 14 towers per month. When the entire production process is placed in operation, this number will rise to 28 per month. Gdańsk is already among the Polish leaders in production of this type. Eventually, the wind turbine tower production facility on the shipyards's premises will be one of the largest in Europe.
The new plate-bending machine is one of the largest machines in the shipyard and one of the few units of this type in Poland. It is designed to prepare the basic components for the construction of wind turbine towers, from which larger sections are assembled. These sections can be as long as 50 metres, with a diameter of up to 6.5 metres; in the second half of 2015 the facility will be able to produce giant sections up to 8 metres' diameter. The machine can bend plates with a maximum thickness of 120 mm.
MCB 3090WT plate-bending machine parameters:
- Suitable for rolling plates up to 3 m in width into elements
with a diameter between 990 mm and 8.5 m and thickness
between 14 mm and 120 mm at maximum width.
- The machine can roll plates into cylindrical and conical
shapes, such as those used in wind turbine towers as well as
other structures.
- The four-roll design makes it possible to roll and bend
plates at the same time.
- The digital control system with an integrated memory
makes it possible to store and perform repeatable rolling
operations and the touch-screen control panel enables the
operator to communicate remotely with the manufacturer's
service team to adjust the settings and verify them on an
on-going basis.
- The plate-rolling machine weighs 156 tonnes.
The assembly of the machine the was completed on 29 January 2015. The plate-rolling machine is the second unit of this type in the Shipyard, the first being a smaller model – MCB 3070WT.