Innovation in Lift! Solutions for Wind Turbine Tower Cranes & Major Component Replacement

In August 2025, the “Wind Turbine Tower Crane & Major Component Replacement – Low-Cost Solutions Forum (Closed-Door)” was successfully held in Jiyuan, Henan, co-organized by Jinli Heavy Industry and WindTalk.

As the wind power industry continues to upgrade, high-tower turbine installation and major component replacement have become critical topics. The forum came at the right time, offering a professional platform to focus on key issues and explore practical solutions.

With the theme “Gathering Wisdom, Exploring Low-Cost Solutions, Driving O&M Innovation”, the event brought together nearly 100 representatives from OEMs, wind farm owners, EPC contractors, lifting enterprises, and academic experts.

During the forum, Ms. Dong Yali, Chairwoman of the Jiyuan Federation of Industry and Commerce, highlighted the global energy transition and the pivotal role of wind power. She emphasized Jinli’s leadership as China’s first producer of wind turbine luffing tower cranesIn response to the trend toward larger wind turbines and evolving demands for increased hub heights and blade lengths, Jinli Heavy Industry has proactively adapted.she noted the importance of innovative installation and replacement technologies to ensure safe, efficient, full lifecycle operations.

Mr. Song Guang, General Manager of Jinli Heavy Industry, announced the company’s 4th-generation JLD3300 wind tower crane, capable of installing onshore turbines up to 16 MW with hub heights of 210m, as well as the completion of testing for China’s first JLLT560 wind maintenance crane. He reaffirmed Jinli’s mission to lead with professionalism and support industry development. Deputy GM Jiang Yuehui presented innovation pathways, including the world’s first low-cost full-tower crane solution for hybrid towers and the first no-main-crane major component replacement solution, powered by the JLLT560 robot.

Industry insights were also shared, including “Opportunities and Challenges in Wind Power over the Next Five Years” by WindTalk, which called for moving beyond price wars toward technology-driven, high-quality growth.

Case study sessions showcased core engineering practices:

China Hydropower 11th Bureau detailed construction systems for complex mountainous wind projects.

Multiple manufacturers and service providers presented efficient tower crane lifting methods and major component replacement workflows, using real project reviews to highlight strategies that improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Participants also toured Jinli’s factory, observing advanced production lines and key technologies behind tower cranes and replacement equipment, gaining firsthand understanding of the innovations discussed at the forum.

In the afternoon, the Wind Tower Installation Innovation Forum gathered leading enterprises to address industry-wide challenges such as homogenized competition and the urgent need for technical upgrades. At the closing session, WindTalk proposed the formation of an Industry Alliance for Equipment & Technology Innovation, urging companies to strengthen collaboration, build shared platforms, and drive smart equipment upgrades to move beyond disorderly price competition.

As the wind power sector advances toward higher efficiency and lower costs, the ideas and consensus formed at this forum will serve as a driving force for innovation. Building on this momentum, the industry can accelerate the adoption of low-cost, high-performance solutions—paving the way for the high-quality growth of wind power in Central China and beyond.