Konecranes launches new generation of energy-efficient harbour cranes

Konecranes has launched its sixth generation of mobile harbour cranes, engineered for electric power to help customers reduce carbon emissions.

The Generation 6 high-performance model portfolio targets the growing global bulk and general cargo handling market.

The new cranes marks the first comprehensive revamp of Konecranes Gottwald’s mobile harbour cranes portfolio in 15 years.

Generation 6 is designed for electrical power use. Power can be drawn from an onshore grid, resulting in zero direct carbon emissions during operation.

Operators can also choose a new battery solution that also reduces emissions, giving greater flexibility by permitting crane operation completely independently from the grid.

For quays without a power supply, a common occurrence in developing markets, the cranes come with fuel-saving diesel generators and Konecranes’ latest hybrid drives.

In addition to lower emissions, the robust construction doubles the cranes’s service life in container operation compared to earlier generations, and more powerful lifting capacity curves and high working speeds ensure greater efficiency and faster cargo turnaround times.

The long-lasting design not only saves the resources needed to build new cranes – it supports resale values when customers choose to renew their fleets.

Konecranes President and CEO, Rob Smith, said, “Konecranes is a pioneer and leader in high-performance mobile harbour cranes, and today’s launch underscores that pedigree at a time when growth in the global bulk and cargo handling market gathers pace and customers are seeking more sustainable solutions.

“These cranes represent the best of Konecranes in terms of technology and durability, and thus also strongly support our commitment to sustainability,” he added.

“The carbon footprint of our customers is just as important as our own, and we aim to reduce it through low-carbon, eco-efficient solutions and by extending product lifecycles in ports, factories and everywhere our products and services are used.”

The new cranes will be equipped with smart crane features for safe, ergonomic and efficient crane operation, and will come equipped with TRUCONNECT remote monitoring, which collects condition, usage and operating data from control systems and sensors to help with maintenance planning and predicting possible component or equipment failure.

Customers will also get access to the yourKONECRANES customer portal for a comprehensive view of equipment maintenance needs and performance.

Konecranes, which launched the world’s first mobile harbour crane in 1956, is a pioneer in Ecolifting.

Konecranes today also launched its online self-service Product Advisor, which gives customers the chance to configure their own cranes, facilitating the purchasing process at a time when face-to-face meetings – the main way the industry has done business for decades – can be difficult due to the pandemic.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/konecranes-launches-new-generation-of-energy-efficient-harbour-cranes/