As spring gradually arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, remains shrouded in biting cold winds. As the second-coldest capital in the world, winter temperatures here often drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Yet on this frozen land, a bright "Aurora Green" has become the center of attention. Recently, Zoomlion’s ultra-large ZCC13000 crawler crane successfully completed a critical lifting mission at a large wind farm near Astana, demonstrating the exceptional performance and solid strength of Chinese high-end equipment in extremely cold environments.
△ZCC13000 operating in the extreme cold of Astana
This wind power project is one of Kazakhstan’s key initiatives to advance its energy transition and realize its green vision. Facing the unique challenges of Astana’s extreme cold, frozen ground operations, and strong wind interference, the construction difficulty was extremely high. As the main lifting equipment, Zoomlion’s ZCC13000 crawler crane demonstrated remarkable adaptability. This machine had previously set lifting records at an altitude of 3,400 meters in the mountainous regions of Liangshan, Sichuan Province, and has now proven itself once again in the extreme cold of the Eurasian hinterland.
The Zoomlion ZCC13000 crawler crane undertook the core lifting tasks for wind turbine towers and nacelles, using a 105+7m wind power configuration. Thanks to its industry-leading intelligent control system, operators could stay in the warm cab and monitor equipment status in real time via high-definition cameras and sensors, ensuring every lift and rotation was precise despite the freezing outdoor conditions. Facing the risk of bearing capacity fluctuations from frozen ground, the ZCC13000’s extra-wide crawler contact area and excellent stability allowed it to stand firm on the ice sheet.
"At such low temperatures, the viscosity of hydraulic oil changes dramatically, yet Zoomlion’s equipment still operates very smoothly," said the on-site project manager. The ZCC13000 crawler crane uses low-temperature-resistant special steel and a customized low-temperature hydraulic system, ensuring continuity and stability of power output in minus 40°C conditions. When lifting wind turbine components weighing hundreds of tons, the equipment achieved millimeter-level precise alignment, perfectly overcoming the shaking interference caused by cold winds, achieving a perfect fit in a single attempt.
△ZCC13000 operating at high altitude in Liangshan, Sichuan,China
From tropical to frigid zones, from plains to plateaus, Zoomlion’s series of crawler cranes are demonstrating global adaptability with their all-terrain, all-climate operational capabilities. With the ZCC13000 crawler crane successfully completing the first turbine lifting, the project is now entering its peak construction phase. Once completed, the project is expected to supply a steady stream of clean electricity to Astana and the surrounding areas.
