Combining sustainability with lifting power: Sarens introduces new SGC-170

Designed entirely at Sarens' facilities, the new SGC-170 crane has fewer connections and larger components to enable faster mobilisation and assembly. Its reinforced structure allows it to be transported in less than a week and adapted to all types of situations.

The new SGC-170 crane is also committed to the environment, with a fully electric system that produces zero emissions, cutting energy consumption by up to 40%, and returns the unused energy to the grid.

Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, has introduced the new member of its range of giant cranes, the SGC-170, a model with the highest load and lifting capacities, second only to the SGC-250, considered the largest land-based crane on the planet for six years. The new Sarens model is able to reach a load capacity of 170,000 T/m and exceed a lifting capacity of 3,200 tons. Its main boom with jib can lift 1,300 tons at over 200 metres, a demonstration of its total precision and power.

The new crane has been developed entirely by Sarens’ R&D team at its Wolvertem (Belgium) facility and represents another leap forward in performance and efficiency. The new SGC-170 thus rounds out Sarens’ range of electric cranes, which already included the SGC-90 (also known as “Little Celeste”), offering unprecedented lifting capacity that places it among the most powerful land-based cranes in the world and makes it the benchmark for large-scale projects.

As an electric crane, the new Sarens SGC-170 eliminates the need for hydraulic pumps, filters and diesel engines, slashing maintenance requirements and boosting overall efficiency. The model incorporates an energy-recovery system that activates when lowering loads or moving the main boom—which can extend up to 155 metres. The regenerated electricity can be reused for other crane movements, while any surplus can be fed back into the grid. Thanks to this system, the SGC-170 can cut energy consumption by up to 40%.

The latest addition to Sarens’ giant-crane family also remains fully committed to efficient assembly. The SGC-170 uses fewer internal connections and larger, more manageable components, easing transport and installation. Its reinforced structure allows it to be commissioned in only 4 to 6 weeks from its arrival on site, requiring only one week to be relocated on site. It is therefore ideal for large offshore wind projects, petrochemical installations, major infrastructure works and nuclear sites, where tight spaces, heavy lifts and the need to optimise operating costs are critical.

"Ten years ago, plugging a crane like this into the grid would’ve been unthinkable. Now, we’ve built a machine that’s not only more efficient and sustainable, but one that’s ready for the most demanding jobs, anywhere in the world," said Matthias Sarens, head of design at Sarens.

Sarens's new venture completes the company's family of giant cranes, with members of recognized international prestige such as the SGC-250 - known as “Big Carl”, and key in the development of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in the UK -, the SGC-140 “Big Benny XL”, the recently unveiled SGC-120/1 or the SGC-90 - known as “Little Celeste” -, a ring crane powered only by electricity, which is capable of returning the energy produced and not used to the grid.

www.sarens.com