Introduction
From 2025 to 2026, China's crane industry is undergoing a profound intelligent transformation. From the intelligent upgrade of thousand-ton bridge cranes at Xiluodu Hydropower Station to the successful operation of the world's first intelligent bridge crane system for hydropower stations, and TZ's 1300-ton bridge crane winning the world record, China's heavy machinery manufacturing industry has taken solid steps toward intelligence and localization. These technological breakthroughs not only enhance equipment safety and efficiency but also provide strong equipment support for critical sectors such as hydropower and nuclear power.
Main Content
1. Xiluodu Hydropower Station: Equipping Thousand-Ton Bridge Cranes with a 'Smart Brain'
Technical Breakthrough: The electrical control system upgrade of the 1000-ton bridge crane in the main powerhouse, launched in July 2024, marks an important milestone in the intelligent transformation of traditional cranes.
Key Technical Details:
• Intelligent Prediction and Maintenance System for Rotating Machinery Failures: Real-time monitoring of equipment operation status through sensors, using AI algorithms to predict potential failures and enable preventive maintenance
• Intelligent Steel Wire Rope Inspection Technology: Using machine vision and ultrasonic technology to monitor wire rope wear and broken wires in real-time
• Structural Health Monitoring at Critical Stress Points: Deploying strain sensors at critical stress points of the bridge crane to monitor structural stress changes in real-time
Application Value: This upgrade significantly improves equipment safety and operational efficiency, providing more reliable equipment support for hydropower station unit maintenance. It is expected to reduce equipment failure rates by over 30%.
2. World's First Intelligent Hydropower Bridge Crane System Goes Online
Milestone Event: In June 2025, with the successful completion of the last unit maintenance task at the Three Gorges Left Bank Power Station, the world's first remote intelligent operating system for hydropower bridge cranes successfully passed its first annual maintenance verification.
System Features:
• Remote Intelligent Operation: Operators can remotely control bridge cranes from the control room, reducing on-site operation risks
• Intelligent Path Planning: The system automatically plans optimal lifting paths to avoid collision risks
• Real-Time Status Monitoring: Comprehensive monitoring of equipment operation parameters with automatic alarms for abnormal conditions
Industry Significance: The successful operation of this system marks the official entry of large-scale hydropower bridge cranes into the era of intelligent operation, providing a replicable intelligent solution for the global hydropower industry.
3. TZ 1300-Ton Bridge Crane Wins "World Record"
Honor Achievement: In December 2024, TZ's 1300-ton bridge crane was crowned in the "2024 Heavy Machinery World Record Science and Technology Achievement" announced by the China Heavy Machinery Industry Association, becoming the world's largest single-hook bridge crane.
Technical Highlights:
• Ultra-Large Lifting Capacity: Single-hook lifting capacity of 1300 tons, setting a world record
• High-Precision Control: Using advanced electrical control systems to achieve millimeter-level positioning accuracy
• Modular Design: Facilitating transportation and on-site assembly to adapt to different project requirements
Industry Impact: This achievement not only demonstrates China's technical strength in heavy equipment manufacturing but also provides key equipment support for national major projects such as nuclear power and large-scale water conservancy projects.
4. Localized Bridge Crane Officially Put into Annual Maintenance Work
Localization Process: In November 2025, China's first localized 1000-ton bridge crane was officially put into annual maintenance work at Xiluodu Hydropower Station.
Localization Achievements:
• Core Electrical Control System Independently Controllable: Breaking away from dependence on foreign technology
• Localization Rate of Key Components Exceeds 90%: Enhancing industrial chain security
• Customized Service Capability: Personalized design based on different hydropower station requirements
Strategic Significance: The successful application of localized bridge cranes marks China's transformation in the large-scale lifting equipment field from "following" to "keeping pace," providing equipment security for energy security.
Industry Outlook
The intelligent transformation of the crane industry is accelerating, with future development trends showing the following characteristics:
1. Deep Intelligent Penetration: AI, IoT, big data, and other technologies will deeply integrate with cranes, achieving a leap from single-machine intelligence to system intelligence
2. Green Development: Electrification and energy efficiency will become industry mainstream, reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption
3. Service Model Innovation: Transformation from equipment sales to "equipment + service," providing full lifecycle management solutions
4. International Layout: Chinese crane enterprises will accelerate their "going global" pace to participate in global market competition
With the proposal and implementation of the "New Quality Productive Forces" concept, the crane industry, as an important part of the equipment manufacturing industry, will continue to innovate on the path of intelligence, greening, and high-end development, contributing to the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry.
