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Last month (see p103 of the August 2012 issue of Dry CargoInternational), we discussed how an E-Crane on a floatingterminal can be an economical solution for expanding your portinfrastructure. This month, we’ll be focusing on how mobileE-Cranes are a practical solution for any mobile needs at yourfacility. E-Cranes can be installed on either low or high gantryportal on rails, or on crawlers.

RECENT PROJECT: PORT OF KOKKOLA

Port of Kokkola, located in mid-west Finland, purchased a railmounted 2000 Series E-Crane, model 17359 GA-E for unloadingiron ore, zinc concentrate, and coal. The crane has a maximumoutreach of 35 metres (117 ft) and a duty cycle capacity of 21metric tonnes (23.1 US tons). The location of Port of Kokkola inFinland makes it a very well-known harbour with connections toother parts of Finland, both by road and rail. The port is anindispensable link in the trade between East and West by offeringfast connections to Russia and to other parts of the world aswell. In recent years, the port has been improving and expandingits infrastructure. After extending the ‘Deep Port’ quay, it wasdecided to purchase a new E-Crane to increase the port’sloading and unloading capacity. The newly installed E-Cranehelped 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 transloadingcapacity and precise operation. The balanced, E-Crane can reach

E-Crane: practical solution for mobility requirements

capacities of up to 1,300tph (metric tonnes per hour) and canbe operated easily, with utmost precision. Furthermore, the lowenergy consumption of this machine played a big part in makingthis choice. E-Crane’s design, a parallelogram-style boom thatprovides a direct mechanical connection between thecounterweight and load, ensures that the E-Crane remains innear perfect balance throughout its entire working range. Thisreduces horsepower requirements and power consumption byup to 50% compared with conventional cranes and materialhandlers.

The E-Crane at Port of Kokkola, baptized as Nora, nowsuccessfully loads and unloads iron ore oxide into largeHandymax-sized vessels (shore-to-ship operation). Moredemanding jobs are no problem either; the E-Crane also offloadszinc concentrate from coasters into an existing travelling hopper,located on the side of the dock (ship-to-shore operation). TheE-Crane at Port of Kokkola obtains fast cycle times of 40seconds per cycle. Utilizing the E-Crane, equipped with a 7.5m3

hydraulic clamshell bucket grab, results in a net payload between14 and 16 metric tonnes, and peak offloading capacities in the1,150–1,300tph range (zinc concentrate).

Nora is also equipped with E-Crane’s new remoteconnectivity (tele-servicing) capabilities. This allows E-Craneservice engineers to remotely connect to their specific E-Cranefrom anywhere in the world to trouble-shoot, resolve problems,and assist with repairs of the crane. This greatly reduces

Rail-mounted 2000 Series E-Crane,model 17359 GA-E in operation at the

Port of Kokkola in Finland.

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down-time and costs associated with maintenance as E-Cranecan provide the necessary support during regular serviceintervals without having to travel to the job-site.

As operators at the port have gained skills and expertiseusing the equipment and management has increased experienceand know-how with the logistics of the E-Crane, the E-Cranecontinues to play a role in the successful development of theport. Management at the Port of Kokkola has been very happyworking with E-Crane to make this project a success.

Torbjörn Witting, port director at the Port of Kokkola: “Thisproject was the ‘easiest’ one in all my time at Port of Kokkola:E-Crane fully understood our wishes, and we were extremelypleased with how the negotiations, technicalmeetings and training sessions went”.

FUTURE PROJECTS

E-Cranes mounted on mobile undercarriageshave proven to be very practical in manycircumstances. The following customers in avariety of industries are aware of this andhave chosen E-Crane to deliver a newmachine to add to their fleet in the nearfuture.

ThyssenKrupp ordered a mobile E-Cranefor its facility in Mobile, Alabama USA. ThisE-Crane is on high gantry with an attachedhopper 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 willhave a maximum outreach of 31.7m (104ft) and a duty cyclecapacity of 14 metric tonnes (15.4 US tons) — see 3D drawingon pxx.

Holcim Tuban in Indonesia recently ordered a 1500B SeriesE-Crane, model 9238 GA-E on rail, along with a hopper (to bemade 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 operationalat the end of October 2012. Two years ago, Van Heygheninstalled its first 2000 Series E-Crane to offload Panamax sizedvessels at the Van Heyghen Recycling export terminal in the

The rail-mounted 2000 Series E-Crane,model 17359 GA-E at the Port ofKokkola in Finland unloads iron ore,zinc concentrate, and coal.

View from insidethe cab of the Portof Kokkola’sE-Crane.

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harbour of Ghent, Belgium. This recent order will beidentical to the original 2000 Series unit (see photographbelow).

In the past, the scrap loading, unloading, and stockpilingoperations on the dock were carried out by contractedlarge rubber-tyred mobile harbour cranes. The first E-Crane purchased by Van Heyghen has proven itself forseveral years now and has passed numerous tests verifyingreliability and hourly production rates with flying colors.The first E-Crane has realized ship loading rates that were100% higher compared with the rubber-tyred harbourcranes. Commissioning for this E-Crane is planned for theend of October.

Savage Services USA purchased a 1500B Series, model9317 E-Crane on crawlers earlier this year. This E-Cranewill 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 idealsolution for mobile harbour requirements. E-Crane’s

fundamental ‘Equilibrium’ design allows gravity to work for itscustomers, instead of against them, offering savings onmaintenance and power costs. These economic advantages,along with high shiploading and unloading rates, are behind thecranes’ popularity.

Close-up of the rail-mountedgantry of the Port of Kokkola’s

E-Crane.

ThyssenKrupp’srecently acquired

mobile E-Crane forits facility in Mobile,

Alabama USA willbe used for handling

scrap and will beoperational at the end

of 2012.

Van Heyghen Recycling has ordered itsfourth E-Crane. This unit will beidentical to the original 2000 Seriesunit.