Kuenz stacking and rail-mounted cranes for port

Austrian crane manufacturer Hans Kuenz GmbH has received an order for automated stacking cranes and intermodal container cranes from APM Terminals‘ new Maasvlakte II Terminal in the Port of Rotterdam, opening in November 2014.

A contract for the supply of 26 automated stacking cranes and two rail-mounted gantry cranes was signed last week. The highly automated equipment will be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and be ready for full commercial operation from November 2014.

“APM Terminals and Kuenz intend to set a new standard for productivity, reliability and availability of terminal equipment worldwide,” said Michael Geiger, director sales, Kuenz.

A key innovation of the two rail-mounted gantry cranes is the automated handling of containers on the water side, a new combination of manned and unmanned operation. From a mechanical perspective, the Kuenz flex drive for the gantry travel gear and a pioneering Kuenz hoist system in the automated sacking cranes are examples of these technological solutions.

For the APM Terminals Maasvlakte II project, Kuenz will use ABB as the supplier of the electrical and automation system. “ABB’s extensive knowhow and capabilities in crane automation and our common experience of the CTA project made this decision a no-brainer,” said Gunter Bischof, managing director, Kuenz.

Kuenz has two production facilities in Austria and one in Slovak Republic. The company’s core business is rail-mounted gantry cranes, special purpose cranes and equipment for the hydro power industry.