DP World Antwerp in Belgium has ordered new drive units for 4 of their Konecranes Gottwald Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs) and improvements to the connection areas between the bogie and balancer beams for these 4 machines and 4 more ASCs. The upgrades will improve the performance and reliability of existing equipment at the terminal. The order was booked in January 2022. Parts will arrive mid-year and the upgrades to the 8 ASCs will be commissioned by Q4 2022.
Dubai Ports World (DP World) currently operates their Antwerp Gateway terminal with a fleet of 20 Konecranes Gottwald ASCs. The terminal has 34 new Konecranes Gottwald ASCs on order over the next 4 years. As this upgrade order shows, the older ASCs can be updated with the latest features for many more years of high performance.
“We’ve had Konecranes Gottwald ASCs for nearly 15 years, and they still work well. But they were made with the technology available then, so an upgrade will bring their performance and reliability in line with our new ASCs. Extending the productive life of port equipment is appreciated by our customers because it saves them money, and it helps us to reach our sustainability goals,” says Jef Lambregts, Head of Projects at DP World Antwerp Gateway.
Konecranes will upgrade 4 ASCs with new gantry drive units, which include 8 bogies and 4 balancers per ASC. They will also upgrade the connection between the balancers and the beams. Four more ASCs will also undergo this upgrade minus the drive unit replacement, which was done last year. The new gantry drive units represent the latest Konecranes drive technology: it will make maintenance easier. This work is part of a bigger refurbishment program that will take place over the coming years.
“Konecranes has a strong relationship with DP World. We were excited when DP World Antwerp became one of the first customers to start automating their terminal with 4 Konecranes Gottwald ASCs, and it’s satisfying that this equipment has performed so well that they would like to keep using it. Upgrades will make these ASCs just as efficient as the new machines on order, reflected in less downtime, higher performance and optimized spare parts management. We are pleased to be able, once again, to offer our customers the best technology for their specific needs,” says Wesley Claessens, Sales Service Manager, Konecranes Port Services.
A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a lifting industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.