This month was an eventful one as the Dieseko factory commissioned its largest up-ending hammer specifically designed for the offshore market! The 500NF Upending Vibratory Hammer passed the FAT-test and is now DNV-certified for offshore lifting appliances. This machine is now ready for the efficient and safe installation of Anchor Piles, Pin Piles, and Pile Positioning Frame tubes in the offshore renewable energy market.

The ICE 500NFU successfully passed the following tests:

• Safety tests

• Upending test

• Load test (330T in straight lift, 175T in upending lift)

• Vibration test

• Wet test (machine fully submerged)

Upending is an efficient installation method; a horizontally stored pile can be picked up by the vibratory hammer, lifted, placed in position, and immediately vibrated in one sequence. The DNVGL-ST-0378 standard for offshore lifting appliances ensures you will be working safely during all these steps!

Development

over the last two years the 500NFU was a major job for our engineering department, and led to innovations for the tilt bracket, increased lifting capacity and a hydraulic locking system between the vibro hammers gear case and lifting head. The up-ending and locking system are powered by a 100% emission-free electric-hydraulic power unit, which is part of the electrification strategy of the Group.

Commissioning

The 500NFU will be deployed in December 2021 to install anchor piles for wave energy floats off the coast of Portugal. The first client can rest assured that the equipment meets the specifications, which has been diligently checked. The hammer is ready to perform the job without drama. We will be sharing project photos and videos of the hammer shortly after that!

Dirk Smulders – CEO: Our team has great drive and enthusiasm to support and accelerate the energy transition by innovative foundation solutions. This new 500MU development is a great example of that."

Pierre Bouchet – Mechanical Engineer: Rule #1 in the field of offshore; no surprises! So we test, test and test until everything is 100% perfect. "

The 300MU was the first Upending Vibro Hammer ever

The 500NFU is a further development of the patented 300MU Upending Vibratory Hammer. Dieseko’s Upending concept was first introduced in 2012 on the Global Tech I wind farm. In this project 240 PIN piles, up to 60 meters in length were picked up, positioned and vibrated directly without an auxiliary crane for the first time in history. With this efficient way of installation, Dieseko opened the industries eyes to the use of Vibratory Hammers in offshore applications.

The FAT requires the equipment to demonstrate it attaining the specification. The lifting and up-ending tests were done by lifting a 320-ton barge right out of the water, a truly spectacular sight! The barge was lifted by way of a hoisting piece that was clamped by the hammers four 350T clamps.

The certification process is a clear illustration of the dedication we have to product quality and functionality! You get what you pay for! The up-ending functionality is also available for our clients in China. Please contact your sales representative to discuss your requirements.