September 16
The Backbone Project of the New Land-Sea Corridor in the West
The Pinglu Canal has been completed and opened for navigation
The Onset Ceremony of the Pinglu Canal
As the first canal connecting rivers and seas under national-level coordinated construction since the founding of New China, the Pinglu Canal features three major step-by-step hubs along its entire route: Madao, Qishi, and Qingnian.
Among them, the Madao Hub, located at the first upstream tier, is the largest and technically most complex control project along the entire route, known as the "lifeline" of this "century project." The reliability of its equipment directly impacts the operation of the lock, flood regulation, and waterway safety.
In the construction of the Madao Hub, Weihua, as the core equipment supplier, provided a series of highly reliable lifting and gate control systems: 2×2500kN hoists for the upper gate, 2×1250kN hoists for the lower gate, 2×400kN top-crane for the flood discharge gate at the upper section, and 16 fixed winches.
These equipment cover key working conditions such as shiplock maintenance, emergency sealing, water level regulation, and construction-phase hoisting, providing core equipment support for the safe operation of the Madao Hub and the smooth navigation of the Pinglu Canal.
Upper Gate 2×2500kN Trolley-type Hoist
2×1250kN trolley-type hoist at the lower gate pier
2X400/125kN dam crest gantry crane
Among them, the trolley-type hoist used for inspecting and repairing the upper and lower gates of the ship lock moves along the top rail of the gate, undertaking tasks such as lifting and lowering the stacked beam gates, blocking water, and hoisting and recovering operations. It creates a dry inspection environment for the ship lock's radial gates and chamber structure. In case of sudden gate malfunctions, it can also perform emergency sealing and handle the lifting of large components during the construction phase.
The equipment features dual lifting points for synchronous operation, with a span of up to 52 meters, making it a gantry-type hoist with a relatively large span among its domestic counterparts.
The flood discharge gate at the upstream head of the dam is located at the upstream end of the navigation system, responsible for upstream water level regulation: ensuring flood control safety during flood seasons, maintaining channel depth under normal conditions, and supporting the safe and continuous operation of the ship lock.
The foundation supporting the stable operation of these "giants" lies in the underlying upgrade of Weihua's R&D model—shifting from the experience-driven approach of "design—prototyping—testing" to the digital intelligent R&D process of "modeling—virtual verification—optimization.".
The hoisting mechanism of the trolley-type opening and closing machine adopts a fully enclosed transmission configuration. Through three-dimensional design and finite element analysis, the structural strength, stiffness, and operational reliability are systematically verified. Risk assessment and structural optimization are completed before manufacturing, ensuring the product is both safe, reliable, and economically efficient.
Serving the Pinglu Canal is a microcosm of Weihua's deep involvement in major national infrastructure projects. Over the years, Weihua has focused on the development of high-end lifting equipment, intelligent material handling systems, and key equipment for major water conservancy projects, ensuring engineering safety through equipment reliability and safeguarding industrial chain resilience with domestic supply.
Looking ahead, Weihua will continue to uphold rigorous standards, solid craftsmanship, and intelligent design, persistently serving major national projects and making Weihua equipment a reliable technical foundation in the country's infrastructure construction.
