VR revolutionises offshore training

16th October 2024

Strong winds and high waves … tasks at offshore wind farms are often carried out in the most difficult conditions. It is challenging to train for working in these scenarios in the real world. Nevertheless, service technicians need to be prepared.

To address this, Palfinger, in collaboration with RelyOn, is now offering the necessary training for offshore wind farm operators via virtual reality (VR), opening up completely new opportunities. “The unrivalled holistic range of hardware and training services, which we are now providing together with RelyOn, opens up a new, global business segment for us,” says Hubert Wallner, head of the digital product line at Palfinger.

Virtual training, real added value

RelyOn uses the Palfinger VR1 training simulators for the practical part of the courses. These consist of two models of Palfinger’s marine cranes, the Paltronic control electronics, and the Palfinger radio remote control. All conceivable scenarios are played out featuring realistic weather conditions and waves.

“Thanks to our cooperation, RelyOn can now include scenarios that could not be trained before. On top of difficult situations caused by storms and high waves, complex lifting processes that would mean a high risk of accidents for the crew and the load can be simulated,” explains Klaus Schreiber, vice president of sales and service at Palfinger Marine. “If you are able to operate the crane on our VR1 training simulators, you can also confidently control the real crane at the wind farm.”