The Big WOLFF 1250 B: Going strong in the World Heavyweight Class

A big WOLFF on a big stage: WOLFFKRAN is presenting its largest crane, the WOLFF 1250 B, to a wide audience for the first time at the bauma 2019. Lifting up to 60 tons in the standard version, the WOLFF 1250 is a true champion in its class. Since its launch in 2009, the largest WOLFF crane ever in the 1,500 tm class has proven its worth on numerous construction sites around the world requiring high lifting capacities.

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A power pack with an impressive profile

The WOLFF 1250 B is designed to lift heavy loads and has a maximum lifting capacity of 20 tons as standard in the single-fall, 40 tons in the 2-fall and 60 tons in the 3-fall mode as well as a maximum jib length of 80 meters. Even greater lifting capacities are possible at the customer’s request by increasing the number of rope falls accordingly. To make the reeving more efficient and secure, the WOLFF 1250 B is equipped with the WOLFFKRAN patented re-reeving mechanism.

Fitted with a powerful 132 kW hoisting gear, the WOLFF 1250 B reaches lifting speeds of up to 190 meters per minute in the frequently used single-fall mode. Also the rope winding capacity of the hoisting drum, measuring almost one kilometer – sufficient for building heights of up to 800 meters in single-fall and/or 400 meters in the 2-fall mode even 260 meters in the 3-fall mode for loads weighing up to 60 tons – is just another reason why the WOLFF 1250 B has earned a good reputation in building projects that go a long way up.

Efficient assembly and handling despite its XXL size format

When designing the BIG WOLFF 1250 B, the focus was not only on the crane's performance, but also on its transport and assembly characteristics. The declared goal of the WOLFFKRAN engineers: The largest WOLFF in the pack should be constructed exactly according to the same modular principle as all WOLFF cranes and can be assembled and put into operation in a maximum of two days. And so the BIG WOLFF became one of the first WOLFF luffing cranes to be built in the WOLFF patented design of the counter jib for luffing cranes – now standard on all WOLFF luffing cranes with a luffing rope system and widely adopted by competitors. The special feature of this counter-jib’s construction is the low weight of its individual components. A simple connection concept further simplifies the quick and secure assembly of the machine platform and an auxiliary assembly winch the reeving of all ropes.

Efficiency also with regard to transportation: The tower top can be folded down by means of a hinge, meaning it saves on cost and space during transport.

Flexible and adaptable

Like all WOLFF cranes, the WOLFF 1250 B is based on the modular WOLFF design and has a connection to the tower system TV 33-5 with an external dimension of 3.33 x 3.25 meters. WOLFFKRAN offers all relevant system components – such as foundation anchors, an external climbing frame, tower ties and bracing frames, cross frames for a stationary use and an undercarriage for a mobile use – for this tower system. The XXL luffing crane can therefore be optimally adapted to suit the various requirements of any job site.

Used on construction sites all over the world

From Wilhelmshaven to the Benelux countries and South Africa, and from the Swiss Alps to North America: The WOLFF 1250 B is leaving its mark all across the world. Right after its launch, the WOLFF 1250 B was used to build the boiler house of a coal-fired power station in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Standing on a 110-meter tower with only one brace and fitted with a 70-meter jib, it was supported by the smaller WOLFF 355 B which traveled along rails on the roof of the boiler house. This extremely successful crane concept was also used in subsequent years to build the power station in Maasvlakte in the Netherlands as well as at the Kusile mega power station construction site in South Africa, where four BIG WOLFF 1250 B with 120-meter high towers were used. But the 1250 B was also used in other type of construction projects. For example, on a high alpine construction site, 2,205 meters above sea level, to raise the dam wall of a pumped storage power station in the Swiss Alps. Or travelling on rails in a shipyard in Antwerp, Belgium. The youngest WOLFF 1250 B left its birthplace in Heilbronn just a few months ago, to assume operation on a construction site in the USA.