Bigger is better for winch manufacturer
An IHC Hytop riser winch in place.
A new company with an impressive production floor has been officially launched.
IHC Hytop Winches (previously part of IHC Hytop BV) has invested in a massive production floor that measures 1,500 m² and 15m high. The hall is equipped with two cranes, each with a 100 ton lifting capacity. This allows IHC Hytop Winches to assemble the heaviest and largest offshore units for its customers.
The new workshop plays an important role in the company’s activities because it enables it to build complex winch systems for both the dredging and offshore markets, giving greater breadth for the supply of the company’s range of winch systems.
Over the past ten years, the demand for custom winches has soared. With the rise in both project and vessel sizes, the capacity of such winches has also been substantially increased. These two developments, says the company, were important factors behind the decision to construct the new supersized workshop.
The company makes winches in standard and customised versions. Whereas the standard winches have a line pull of between 25 and 1,000 kN, the customised units are anything between 1 and 3,000 kN, with any number of specifications.
In one recent example, Jan de Nul’s latest self-propelled cutter suction dredgers have been provided with the company’s spud hoisting winches. These are equipped with multiple failsafe hydraulically released disc brakes that give a controlled dynamic rewinding of the winch during the freefall. This means the spuds’ speed and acceleration or deceleration are controlled, optimising penetration.
At the opening ceremony, IHC Hytop Winches displayed the Riser Installation Winch. With an impressive 800m long cable and 500 tons nominal pull, it is one of the largest of its kind worldwide.
During the official opening ceremony, Mr J Rooswinkel, managing director of IHC Hytop BV handed over the reins of the new company to Mr T Henquet, general manager of IHC Hytop Winches.
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