Tag: harbour cranes

Liebherr’s mobile harbour crane division has reported a record year in crane sales for 2014, with deliveries up 9.8 percent from its previous record set in 2008.

Celebrating its 40th year since delivering its first mobile harbour crane, the company delivered a total of 112 units to six continents last year – a 9.8 percent increase from 2008 when the company sold a record 102 mobile harbour cranes.

Europe remains the company’s largest market, accounting for 38 percent of its shipments, while the African market tripled last year’s sales numbers to account for nearly 30 percent. This was due, in part, to a substantial order of 20 units from port operators in Algeria, which almost doubled the total number of units delivered to Algeria since its first in 1995. Latin America and Asia both accounted for 13 percent, while the company also delivered units to the Middle East, North America and Oceania.

The LHM 550 was the most successful model with 35 units shipped worldwide, while the number of LHM280s more than doubled from 2013 to 23 units.

Matthias Mungenast, Liebherr mobile harbour cranes sales director, said: “For a fantastic year like 2014 several factors have to come together. We started with a record order backlog into the year. Throughout the year demand for our cargo handling solution was very stable on a high level. Moreover, large orders helped to significantly increase the population of Liebherr mobile harbour cranes. Finally, we broke the existing record by nearly 10 percent, which is amazing considering the economic environment.”

The company also confirmed its order backlog for 2015 is one of the highest to date and is highly optimistic for 2015.

Liebherr used two mobile harbour cranes and two lattice boom mobile cranes to lift its new RL-K 7500 subsea crane ahead of shipment to Asia.

At its facility in Rostock, Germany, Liebherr used two LHM 600 mobile harbour cranes and two LG 1750 lattice boom mobile cranes to lift the RL-K 7500 onto a transportation device.

The RL-K 7500, which has a dead weight of 665t, will be delivered along with a Liebherr RL-K 4200 knuckle boom crane, to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The customer plans to equip several of its ships with a set of one RL-K 7500 model and three RL-K 4200 cranes.

The RL-K 7500 can lift up to 300t and handle loads down to a depth of 3,600m underwater.

It also features Liebherr’s AHC (Active Heave Compensation) system, which uses sensors to predict and compensate the vessel’s motion, and a horizontal winch shifting system designed to ensure the ideal fleet angle of the rope under all load conditions when both hoisting and lowering. The vertical winch frame lifting system reduces wear on the rope, extending service life.

Crane manufacturer Liebherr said mobile harbour cranes played a significant role in the overall success of the Liebherr Maritime Cranes division in 2013.

Close to 80 mobile harbour cranes were delivered around the world in 2013, helping generate a turnover of EUR 280 million (US$ 378 million).

The 2013 figures were helped by a number of major orders for the 600 series in Latin America and the launch of the Liebherr Maritime Cranes simulator range, a company spokesperson said. In 2013 twelve units of the Liebherr type LHM 600 were sold in the Latin American market, including three barge slewing (LBS) cranes.

Other areas that helped the success was Liebherr’s LiSIM simulator-based crane driver training, a company spokesperson added. The maritime crane simulators are used to help improve port safety and productivity. Crane types that can be simulated include, mobile harbour cranes, ship to shore, rubber tyred gantry and offshore cranes. (See IC August 2013 issue page 45 for more information).

Liebherr has an order backlog worth EUR 150 million ($203 million), a figure it said is much higher than in 2012.

Liebherr has won several orders for LHM mobile harbour cranes from the Middle East. These include two LHMs, a reachstacker and the first LiSIM LHM 550 simulator. This year more than 40 mobile harbour cranes have been delivered making a total of well over 300 LHMs in the region.

A first was the order for the new LiSIM mobile harbour crane simulator for Saqr Port in Ras Al Kaimah, United Arab Emirates. The resulting increase in operator skills allows for safe and productive crane operation in the real world and naturally boosts productivity. Saqr Port has opted for the classroom solution which can be easily integrated into existing training centres.

Saqr Port has ordered an LHM 550, reinforcing its existing mobile harbour crane fleet. The new crane is equipped with Liebherr’s Pactronic system for more fuel efficient bulk handling. The LHMs can also be used for container handling and general cargo operation if necessary – just by an easy exchange of the lifting attachment. The new crane and simulator will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014.

To revitalise the Port of Maqal in Iraq, NAWAH Port Management has purchased an LHM 180 and a Liebherr LRS 645 Reachstacker. The LHM 180 is designed for container handling as well as for safe and reliable general cargo operation having a maximum lift of 64 tonnes.