Leading German fruit terminal opts for additional Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Crane

Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes continue to be in great demand for fruit handling applications at terminals around the world. At the end of 2016, HHLA Frucht- und Kühl-Zentrum, a company of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and the terminal operator SEA-invest, put a diesel-electric Konecranes Gottwald Model 4 Mobile Harbor Crane into operation at their multi-purpose terminal in Hamburg.

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The crane’s main job at the O’Swaldkai multi-purpose terminal in Hamburg is to serve reefer vessels that transport bananas. The G HMK 4406 unloads the delicate fruit on pallets from the ship’s hold and unloads reefer containers that arrive as deck cargo. With a maximum lifting capacity of 100 t and an outreach of up to 46 m, it can also handle heavy cargo and project cargo.

Axel Hoeckrich, Managing Director of HHLA Frucht- und Kühl-Zentrum GmbH, said: “With this new mobile harbor crane, we can efficiently unload the growing number of containers that are now being transported aboard fruit vessels. It has replaced an old ship-to-shore crane. Furthermore, it can also unload fruit pallets, and its versatility increases our ability to develop new business activities. With this state-of-the-art crane, we are strengthening the fruit port of Hamburg, which is already the most important site for fruit handling and trade in Germany.”

HHLA has trusted mobile harbor crane technology from Konecranes for fruit handling since 2003. At that time, two small HMK 90 E cranes of Generation 4 went to Hamburg where they are still in operation. Like them, the new crane can be moved quickly on the quayside. “All of the cranes also have high working speeds, giving high productivity and, particularly when handling fruit pallets, help us to keep the cold chain intact,” explains Hans-Juergen Schneider, Regional Sales Manager, Konecranes, Port Solutions. The G HMK 4406’s maximum lifting speed is 90 m/min.

The benefits of Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes and the resulting competitive advantages have recently impressed several other operators of fruit terminals. As a result, two additional machines started work in a fruit terminal in the UK in October 2016. These machines are Model 2 cranes in the G HMK 2204 two-rope variant, predominantly intended for unloading fruit pallets arriving at two berths.