BASF extend their fleet with another Konecranes barge handler

The German chemical company BASF has awarded Konecranes to deliver another barge handler for their operations in Antwerp. The new Konecranes SMV 4545 TCX4 BH is BASF Antwerp NV’s third reach stacker for barge handling to be delivered in December 2017.

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The Konecranes reach stacker will be operating at the barge terminal of BASF Antwerp, located in their chemical site in the port of Antwerp. BASF is the largest chemical company in the world. A significant part of the products are transported in containers on barge, creating a need for a machine with special capabilities. Since the machine will handle approximately 40,000 containers every year, the powerful Konecranes reach stacker was a natural choice. With a wheelbase of 9,000 mm the machine has great stability and reach, still with unmatched flexibility. The new machine is able to load and unload 45 metric ton containers in first and second row, and more important, it is now also capable of lifting 28 ton containers in the fourth row of a barge. This creates new opportunities to optimize the barge transport concept and creates extra storage capacity in the terminal.

This is the third barge handler delivered by Konecranes to BASF Antwerp. The order was placed with Konecranes’ Belgian distributor Heavy Handling. The Belgian distributor has long experience in the industry and provides after sales services, that make them a safe choice for every customer.

The machine ordered by BASF will come with special features to fit their operations even better, like wireless cameras, central greasing and intelligent transport mode to enhance safety. The willingness and creativity to develop the products to fit the customer’s specific need is also a reason why BASF choose to buy another Konecranes machine.

“This new barge handler will enable us to handle larger vessels, optimize our stack capacity and fulfil our internal customer’s request to handle containers with 2 tons extra.” says Dirk Vanreusel, Manager Rail & Terminal Operations, BASF Antwerp NV.

“We are happy that BASF has chosen to add another Konecranes reach stacker to their fleet for barge handling operations,” says Tobias Åkesson, Area Sales Manager, Konecranes Lift Trucks.