A caterpillar crane boasting the highest lifting capacity in the world rolls off the production line in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 28. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]

A caterpillar crane boasting the highest lifting capacity in the world rolled off the production line in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 28.

The crawler crane is capable of lifting 4,500 metric tons, breaking a world record. It was developed by Zhejiang Sany Equipment Co Ltd, a world-leading supplier of crawler crane equipment and provider of lifting solutions based in Huzhou's Wuxing district.

The crane measures 216 meters in length when its arms are extended and can cover an area of nearly 4,200 square meters, about the size of 10 basketball courts.

"It would take at least 200 30-ton trucks to move the colossus," said Qin Xuqi, head of the Sany Crawler Crane Research Institute. 

The crane will be delivered to Shandong Haiwan Hoisting Engineering Co Ltd. The company's chairman Yu Limin said that the crane needs just half a day to perform certain tasks that previously required several months to complete.

Despite its huge frame, the crane boasts an astounding millimeter precision and would be deployed for use in the nuclear power and petrochemical sectors.

The crane currently has more than 20 invention patents to its name.                                  

The crane measures 216 meters in length when its arms are extended and can cover an area of nearly 4,200 square meters, about the size of 10 basketball courts. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]