Sany SCC86000TM

Sany’s SCC86000TM crawler crane, unveiled on May 29, 2011, made global headlines as it set a new benchmark in the world of heavy lifting. With a jaw-dropping lifting capacity of 3,600 tonnes and a maximum load moment of 86,000 tonne-metres, it became the world’s largest mobile crane upon its release. Developed in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, China, this twin-boom crawler crane was a product of years of advanced engineering and innovation—evident in the 30 patents Sany registered for the project.

This massive crane wasn’t just built for size; it was designed with a specific application in mind—the hoisting operations for the AP1000 nuclear power unit projects in China. These high-profile projects demanded unprecedented lifting power and safety, and the SCC86000TM was engineered to meet that challenge. Its debut followed just one day after Zoomlion launched its ZCC3200NP 3,200-ton crawler, temporarily making it the most powerful crane in the world before Sany reclaimed the title.

The SCC86000TM marked a significant milestone in China’s industrial capabilities, as it dethroned long-standing European dominance in the super heavy crane segment—especially from German manufacturers. To support the crane’s development, Sany invested 100 million RMB to build a dedicated supercomputing center, becoming the first company in the industry to do so.

Structurally, the SCC86000TM is built with a twin lattice boom design, a configuration ideal for extreme loads due to its high stiffness and stable load distribution. While specific dimensions and boom configurations remain under wraps, what’s clear is its role in transforming the boundaries of lifting capabilities for mobile cranes. However, this title was later surpassed in November 2012, when XCMG introduced the XGC88000—a 4,000-tonne crawler crane that pushed the envelope even further.

The SCC86000TM played a critical role in lifting operations for Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor projects in Sanmen and Haiyang. Although the projects faced delays following the Fukushima disaster and Westinghouse’s 2017 bankruptcy, Sany’s crane showcased China’s ability to execute world-class engineering feats on the nuclear and infrastructure stage.

As a symbol of Chinese industrial ambition, the SCC86000TM not only demonstrated record-breaking lifting power but also accelerated China’s global standing in the ultra-heavy crane manufacturing industry.