PALFINGER at WindEnergy Hamburg
From fully electric offshore wind cranes to immersive service training: at WindEnergy Hamburg, PALFINGER showed how reliable lifting, smart maintenance and customer-focused technology support the next phase of offshore wind energy.
Where the wind industry meets
Every two years, Hamburg becomes the place where the global wind industry comes together. Developers, operators, suppliers and technology experts gather to discuss how wind energy can continue to scale and what solutions will be needed. With more than 40,000 attendees from 100 countries and 83,000 square meters of exhibition space across eleven halls, the trade fair provided us with a broad view of the technologies, services and partnerships driving the energy transition.
For PALFINGER, the event was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how lifting and handling solutions contribute to safe, efficient and reliable operations in a sector that continues to evolve fast. As offshore wind projects become larger, more complex and more international, equipment needs to deliver more than lifting capacity alone: it has to support availability, reduce maintenance effort and perform dependably in demanding offshore environments.
From the booth to the offshore wind farm
At our PALFINGER booth, visitors could take a closer look at a scale model of the PF 160 fixed boom crane and experience the VR2 training simulator. Together, both exhibits offered a compact insight into two areas that matter strongly in wind operations: robust lifting technology and practical, digital training that prepares crews for real-life service scenarios.
With our VR2 training simulator, operators can experience realistic offshore work scenarios, for example lifting a toolbox from the vessel onto the turbine platform. They can also train a variety of emergency situations that would be impossible to practice in real-world operations.
A key topic in Hamburg was the project update on our innovative fully electric jib cranes for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms. Announced as an industry first, the DKJe cranes are designed to support offshore substations with reliable, low-maintenance lifting performance. The first jib crane for Bałtyk 2 is now fully installed on the offshore substation (OSS) at the Smulders yard in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. Final software adjustments and the Harbour Acceptance Test were completed at the beginning of September. The second jib crane for Bałtyk 3 is also at the yard, with an assembly window being coordinated for October.
“For offshore wind, availability and efficient maintenance are essential. The DKJe was developed with this in mind: activities that require physical presence on the crane are reduced to yearly intervals, while selected tasks can be carried out remotely. This supports safe operations and helps our customers keep their focus on the performance of the wind farm,” says Paweł Stasiłowicz, Project Manager at PALFINGER.
The two DKJe cranes form part of PALFINGER’s broader contribution to Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3. Our scope has been expanded with a contract for 50 PK 13000 T cranes for the nacelles of Bałtyk 2. In addition, we are supplying six PF 160 cranes for the substations and 100 PF 120 platform cranes for the wind turbines across the two wind farms. The projects themselves are also progressing: all transition pieces and OSS jackets have already been assembled at their final destination.
Conversations that move the industry forward
Beyond the exhibits themselves, WindEnergy Hamburg was above all about conversations. “WindEnergy Hamburg is an important platform for meeting customers, partners and experts from across the wind industry. The conversations at our booth showed once again that reliable lifting solutions, smart service concepts and close cooperation are key to supporting the continued growth of offshore wind. For us, the exhibition was a strong opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities and gather valuable input for the next steps,” says Iavor Markov, Global Key Account & Segment Manager Offshore Wind at PALFINGER.
After four days in Hamburg, one thing was clear: the wind industry is moving ahead with strong momentum, and the demands placed on offshore infrastructure continue to grow. From fully electric crane technology and low-maintenance solutions to digital training and lifecycle support, the conversations at WindEnergy Hamburg highlighted how innovation and reliability must go hand in hand. With proven marine expertise and a growing footprint in offshore wind, PALFINGER is ready to support the next phase of the energy transition.
Pictures: Kirill Brusilovsky