Climb Auto System for Wind Turbine Towers

Single Technician
Ladder-Mounted Lift

The 3S Lift Climb Auto System improves health and safety while reducing the cost of ownership. On every wind farm there are countless soft tissue injuries due to the repetitive motion of climbing. These injuries can lead to sick leave, long term health issues and reduced motivation among wind turbine technicians.

So far, 55,000 Climb Auto Systems have been installed worldwide, with 2,000 units installed in North America. 3S Lift has a warehouse and logistic center in Dallas, USA, a marketing center in Hamburg, Germany, an engineering center in Chennai, India, and a manufacturing plant in Tianjin, China, to ensure our global service and supply chain management.

Improving Health & Safety

With the CAS, technicians can safely reach the top of the tower while putting zero stress on their muscles and joints. The CAS is a safe and cost-effective way to ascend wind turbines. It allows technicians to focus on the job at hand, and not on the climb. The 3S Lift CAS is a single technician ladder-mounted lift that completely eliminates the physical and mental strain of climbing.

The CAS features control switches on both handles, a remote mode for equipment transport, and collapsible footboards for rapid evacuation in the event of an emergency. The CAS also has redundant fall arrest systems (for the technician and the lift), thus offering superior safety.

Retrofit Installation in 8 Hours or Less

The Climb Auto System can add considerable value to your windfarm. The Climb Auto System can be easily retrofitted to almost any wind turbine – often in 8 hours or less. Because the CAS is mounted to the existing ladder, installation typically requires no structural changes. The CAS reduces the cost of ownership compared to a Service Lift, thanks to lower upfront capital expenditures and lower operating costs.

3S Lift’s Climb Auto System has been installed in over 55,000 wind turbines worldwide.

Increasing Uptime

The Climb Auto System allows technicians to ascend more towers per day, compared to the use of a Climb Assist or manual climbing. Because it eliminates climbing completely, it extends technician longevity. It also improves efficiency and turbine availability.

Faster tower ascent with no fatigue significantly augments technician productivity. This increases turbine uptime and annual energy production (AEP).

Improving Employee Retention

The Climb Auto System completely eliminates the need to climb, thus improving job satisfaction and motivation among technicians. This also boosts employee retention, reducing high technician turnover costs.

Key Features

Top Sheave

The top sheave's compact design allows the CAS car to reach the uppermost platform.

Remote Control

The convenient remote control feature allows technicians to call the car to their position in the tower or send equipment to a co-worker on another platform.

Two-Handle Start-Up Switch

To use the CAS car, the operator must press and hold the switches on both handles simultaneously. If the operator releases either switch, the system stops immediately.

Collapsible Footboards

The collapsible footboards enable rapid evacuation in case of emergency.

Bottom Sensing Panel

When coming in contact with an obstacle, the panel is compressed and the sensor is triggered. This immediately stops the CAS car, thus preventing collision.

Toolbox

The custom metal toolbox can be firmly attached to the footboards to send materials up or down tower via
remote control.

Control Cabinet

Located down-tower, the control cabinet is used to power the system up and down. It can also be used to operate the CAS car remotely.

Two-Handle Start-Up Switch

To use the CAS car, the operator must press and hold the switches on both handles simultaneously. This requires a compact stance, thus ensuring safe passage through platform hatches. If the operator releases either switch, the system stops immediately.

Triple Control System

The CAS can be operated manually on the car, by remote control, or via the control cabinet down tower.

Remote Control

The convenient remote control feature allows technicians to call the car to their position in the tower or send equipment to a co-worker on another platform.

Remote Control Lock-Out Protection

To ensure safety, control priority is always given to the operator riding on the CAS car. The on-car manual mode overrides remote operation (via remote control or control cabinet).

Toolbox

The CAS features a custom metal toolbox, which can be firmly attached to the footboards to send materials up or down tower via remote control.

Variable Frequency Drive

The variable frequency drive automatically adjusts the running speed to ensure a smooth and stable ride.

Obstacle Detection Device

The obstacle detection device on the left handle prevents accidental damage – for example, if a platform hatch is closed when equipment is sent via remote control. When triggered, the CAS car stops immediately.

Overload Protection

To ensure safe operation, the CAS is equipped with overload protection. If the rated load of 140 kg (310 lbs) is exceeded during manual operation, an alert will sound and the system will not run. During remote operation – e.g. when transporting tools – the load limit is 60 kg (132 lbs).

Bottom Sensing Panel

The bottom sensing panel is located beneath the footboards. When coming in contact with an obstacle, the panel is compressed and the sensor is triggered. This immediately stops the CAS car, thus preventing collision.

Platform Indicator

When approaching a platform, the CAS car slows down and sounds an alert, thus ensuring the safety of the operator and any personnel on the platform.

Guide Rail

The CAS car runs on a ladder-mounted guide rail, which strengthens the ladder while also serving as a fall protection system for the operator and car.