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New record: Largest ring crane in the world will lift 14,000 tons

A Chinese company is building a giant crane with world-record lifting capabilities. XCMG recently announced that the first main unit of the world-first 14,000-ton ring crane has rolled off the production line, marking an historic breakthrough in ultra-heavy-lifting technology. Jointly developed by XCMG and Sinopec Heavy Lifting & Transportation Co., Ltd., the crane will be the largest-capacity ring crane ever built, setting a new benchmark for major construction projects worldwide.

XCMG unveils the world's first 14,000-ton ring crane. [Credit: Image courtesy of XCMG]

 

 

The crane features a modular configuration comprising two main units that work in tandem. The first main unit has completed final assembly and can independently perform lifting operations. Once both units are completed and integrated, the crane will have a maximum lifting capacity of 14,000 tons and a maximum lifting moment of 700,000 ton-meters, with several key performance specifications expected to lead the industry.

"This crane is more than an incremental improvement; it represents a transformative leap for the global heavy-lifting industry," said Yang Dongsheng, chairman of XCMG Group and XCMG Machinery. "Our partnership with Sinopec has created a new integrated model spanning R&D, manufacturing, and application, setting an industry benchmark for independent innovation and engineering application of major technical equipment."

The ring crane also features a pioneering electric direct-drive system that converts electric power directly into motion, delivering energy savings of more than 30%, boosting operating efficiency by 20%, and reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions.

As nuclear power projects worldwide become larger and more modular, demand is rising for ultra-heavy-lifting equipment. The 14,000-ton ring crane marks a major step in the growing role of Chinese-developed high-end lifting equipment in nuclear power construction worldwide. However, it can also serve conventional energy and wind power projects.

For conventional energy, it can lift a range of large towers and vessels as complete units, replacing sectional lifting and reducing risks in assembly, pressure testing, and other installation work. In nuclear power construction, it delivers a world-first capability: From a single crane position and using a single boom configuration, it can handle plant modules and major equipment for two nuclear islands. For offshore wind, its lifting height and capacity enable the installation of larger-capacity turbines.

As impressive as the new ring crane is, it is not the world record holder overall in the heavy-lifting-crane department. That honor is held by another Chinese-produced behemoth: the Taisun gantry crane. This crane lifted 20,133 metric tons (that's 44,385,667 lb!) in the form of a water-ballasted barge on April 18, 2008, at Yantai Raffles Shipyard in Shandong Province, China. The gantry crane features a horizontal bridge beam supported by two upright, self-standing legs shaped like an "A" or straight columns.

The new ring crane has a much different design. It is being built around a large, circular ring-shaped track instead of a standard central pivot or stationary base. It rotates (slews) a luffing jib 360 degrees around the massive circular track while carrying its ultra-heavy loads. The previous world record ring crane holder was the Sarens SGC-250 (aka "Big Carl"), which lifts up to 5,000 tons.

VIDEO: Top 3 heaviest lifts ever by crane type -- a video by Hard Hat Industries. [Credit: Hard Hat Industries]

XCMG was founded in 1943 and has its headquarters in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. The company ranks among the top three construction machinery manufacturers in the world, producing excavators, rollers, wheel loaders, cranes and hoisting machinery, motor graders, and more. Its products are distributed in more than 180 countries and regions worldwide. Learn more on the USA site at https://xcmg-usa.com/.

Sources: XCMG, Wikipedia

Published September 2026

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