E-Crane: practical solution for mobility requirements
Last month (see p103 of the August 2012 issue of Dry Cargo International), we discussed how an E-Crane on a floating terminal can be an economical solution for expanding your port infrastructure. This month, we’ll be focusing on how mobile E-Cranes are a practical solution for any mobile needs at your facility. E-Cranes can be installed on either low or high gantry portal on rails, or on crawlers.
Recent Project: Port of Kokkola
Port of Kokkola, located in mid-west Finland, purchased a rail mounted 2000 Series E-Crane, model 17359 GA-E for unloading iron ore, zinc concentrate, and coal. The crane has a maximum outreach of 35 metres (117 ft) and a duty cycle capacity of 21 metric tonnes (23.1 US tons). The location of Port of Kokkola in Finland makes it a very well-known harbour with connections to other parts of Finland, both by road and rail. The port is an indispensable link in the trade between East and West by offering fast connections to Russia and to other parts of the world as well. In recent years, the port has been improving and expanding its infrastructure. After extending the ‘Deep Port’ quay, it was decided to purchase a new E-Crane to increase the port’s loading and unloading capacity. The newly installed E-Crane helped contribute to the successful development of Kokkola’s ‘Deep Port’ activities and the long-term profitability of the port.
E-Crane was chosen by the port due to its high transloading capacity and precise operation. The balanced, E-Crane can reach capacities of up to 1,300tph (metric tonnes per hour) and can be operated easily, with utmost precision. Furthermore, the low energy consumption of this machine played a big part in making this choice. E-Crane’s design, a parallelogram-style boom that provides a direct mechanical connection between the counterweight and load, ensures that the E-Crane remains in near perfect balance throughout its entire working range. This reduces horsepower requirements and power consumption by up to 50% compared with conventional cranes and material handlers.
The E-Crane at Port of Kokkola, baptized as Nora, now successfully loads and unloads iron ore oxide into large Handymax-sized vessels (shore-to-ship operation). More demanding jobs are no problem either; the E-Crane also offloads zinc concentrate from coasters into an existing travelling hopper, located on the side of the dock (ship-to-shore operation). The E-Crane at Port of Kokkola obtains fast cycle times of 40 seconds per cycle. Utilizing the E-Crane, equipped with a 7.5m³ hydraulic clamshell bucket grab, results in a net payload between 14 and 16 metric tonnes, and peak offloading capacities in the 1,150–1,300tph range (zinc concentrate).
Nora is also equipped with E-Crane’s new remote connectivity (tele-servicing) capabilities. This allows E-Crane service engineers to remotely connect to their specific E-Crane from anywhere in the world to trouble-shoot, resolve problems, and assist with repairs of the crane. This greatly reduces down-time and costs associated with maintenance as E-Crane can provide the necessary support during regular service intervals without having to travel to the job-site.
As operators at the port have gained skills and expertise using the equipment and management has increased experience and know-how with the logistics of the E-Crane, the E-Crane continues to play a role in the successful development of the port. Management at the Port of Kokkola has been very happy working with E-Crane to make this project a success.
Torbjörn Witting, port director at the Port of Kokkola: “This project was the ‘easiest’ one in all my time at Port of Kokkola: E-Crane fully understood our wishes, and we were extremely pleased with how the negotiations, technical meetings and training sessions went”.
Future Projects
E-Cranes mounted on mobile undercarriages have proven to be very practical in many circumstances. The following customers in a variety of industries are aware of this and have chosen E-Crane to deliver a new machine to add to their fleet in the near future.
ThyssenKrupp ordered a mobile E-Crane for its facility in Mobile, Alabama USA. This E-Crane is on high gantry with an attached hopper and will be used for handling scrap. The 1500B Series E-Crane, model 9317, has been delivered and will be operational at the end of 2012. It will have a maximum outreach of 31.7m (104ft) and a duty cycle capacity of 14 metric tonnes (15.4 US tons) — see 3D drawing on pxx.
Holcim Tuban in Indonesia recently ordered a 1500B Series E-Crane, model 9238 GA-E on rail, along with a hopper (to be made in Indonesia) for handling cement, coal, and gypsum.
Van Heyghen Recycling recently ordered its fourth E-Crane. This 2000 Series, model 21382 GA-E on rail will be operational at the end of October 2012. Two years ago, Van Heyghen installed its first 2000 Series E-Crane to offload Panamax sized vessels at the Van Heyghen Recycling export terminal in the harbour of Ghent, Belgium. This recent order will be identical to the original 2000 Series unit (see photograph below). In the past, the scrap loading, unloading, and stockpiling operations on the dock were carried out by contracted large rubber-tyred mobile harbour cranes. The first E-Crane purchased by Van Heyghen has proven itself for several years now and has passed numerous tests verifying reliability and hourly production rates with flying colors. The first E-Crane has realized ship loading rates that were 100% higher compared with the rubber-tyred harbour cranes. Commissioning for this E-Crane is planned for the end of October.
Savage Services USA purchased a 1500B Series, model 9317 E-Crane on crawlers earlier this year. This E-Crane will unload coke at their facility near New Orleans, Louisiana USA.
E-CRANE: An Experienced Supplier of Mobile Harbour Equipment
New and repeat customers know why E-Crane is an ideal solution for mobile harbour requirements. E-Crane’s fundamental ‘Equilibrium’ design allows gravity to work for its customers, instead of against them, offering savings on maintenance and power costs. These economic advantages, along with high shiploading and unloading rates, are behind the cranes’ popularity.
Source: Dry Cargo International – September 2012
