Time and cost savings in wind turbine maintenance: that’s what RUD neXera offers. The innovative electric hoist from the specialist in Aalen, Baden-Württemberg, comes with variable lifting speeds of 24 to 80 m/min
for loads of up to 800 kg. Compared to conventional devices, RUD neXera is around four times faster at lifting and lowering over a typical service cycle. This is made possible primarily by the patented X-Drive chain drive. Wind turbine operators benefit from less downtime for maintenance and longer operating times per turbine. The innovative hoist offers higher safety for service personnel and is easy to maintain thanks to its modular design.
“RUD neXera is completely new and unique. There has never been such a fast and safe hoist for wind turbines on the market before,” says Matthias Müller, technical manager for drive development at RUD Drives, based in Wermsdorf, Saxony. “We developed our innovation specifically for lifting applications with lifting heights of up to 200 metres and more. These hub heights are now a reality in the wind power industry, but classic hoists are designed for a hub height of 160 metres. With RUD neXera, we are closing this gap in the market,” he continues.
Hoisting equipment for all turbine types
As an innovative hoist for wind turbines, RUD neXera is suitable for all turbine types with a hub height of up to 200 metres, both onshore and offshore. The advantage is that it is fast and safe. This is made possible by a chain drive that is a testament to RUD’s expertise.
X-Drive ensures high speeds
At the heart of RUD neXera is the patented X-Drive chain drive, which is a RUD innovation, and this enables high chain speeds of up to 80 m/min. The result is shorter waiting times when lifting and lowering, and therefore shorter service times on wind turbines. This leads to lower service costs and less downtime for the turbine. The fast chain drive also scores points with low chain wear, which not only leads to lower operating costs but also to greater safety. Another safety plus is that the chain pocket wheel prevents the chain from becoming unclamped or sheared off.
Less time spent on servicing = lower costs
When maintaining wind turbines, tools, replacement materials and lubricants have to be transported up into the turbine. RUD neXera takes care of this job – and does it quickly. For example, it can transport up to 800 kg of payload to a height of 200 metres in around eight minutes. Without a load, it is even faster, with a lifting speed of 80 m/min. “When performing maintenance work on wind turbines, every second lift can be an empty lift. So it’s a real advantage to be able to travel at high speeds and get from top to bottom as quickly as possible – and vice versa,” explains Annekatrin Strunz, sales area manager for windpower at RUD. Matthias Müller adds: “With conventional hoists, lifting the necessary tools and auxiliary materials for maintenance work on wind turbines takes an average of two hours. RUD neXera, on the other hand, takes around half an hour, which is only a quarter of the time. And that ultimately saves money, up to 700 euros per use.”
Greater safety
RUD neXera not only scores with high lifting speeds, but also with increased operational and work safety. The newly developed hoist has a built-in incremental encoder that allows the highest and lowest desired hook positions to be set precisely. The sensor records the revolutions of the drive shaft precisely and ensures high positioning and repeat accuracy. The encoder cannot be manipulated during operation and, unlike the push button switches or tilt elements in conventional hoists, its trigger elements cannot be mechanically destroyed.
“These are all developments designed to reduce the risk of accidents during wind turbine maintenance,” explains Müller. In addition, RUD neXera can be equipped with a load eye instead of a load hook. “With the load eye and matching shackles, the load is held securely in place. This is a real safety advantage for the operating and service personnel on the ground.”
Service friendly thanks to modular design
The innovative hoist from RUD has a modular design, which enables simple and efficient servicing of the hoist and replacement of assemblies. Electricians have easy access to the control system on RUD neXera, enabling them to rectify faults more quickly. All control elements are housed in a separate box. This box can be positioned in an easily accessible place in the system and is therefore not exposed to vibrations from the hoist itself. The entire control system can be replaced separately, as can the pendant control. Unlike conventional hoists, the hoist’s operating data (e.g., for the annual inspection and the test log) can be recorded and stored as a variable in the frequency converter in a way that cannot be manipulated.
Hoisting equipment in the wind power industry must be serviced and inspected after a certain number of full-load cycles, as stipulated by DIN EN 14492-2. “Thanks to precise documentation and tamper-proof operating data acquisition, plant operators and service technicians are on the safe side with RUD neXera. This enables significantly longer use of the hoist,” explains Müller.
High demand for efficient hoists for wind turbines
As of 1 January 2025, there were a total of 30 243 wind turbines in Germany with a total installed capacity of 69 475 megawatts. The majority of wind energy generation comes from onshore turbines. These, as well as offshore turbines at sea, require regular maintenance. “There is a high demand for efficient, safe and fast lifting equipment for wind turbines. This is where RUD neXera comes in, taking wind turbine maintenance to a new level,” Müller concludes.
For more information contact RUD Ketten Rieger & Dietz,
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