Konecranes launches new generation of mobile harbor cranes

Konecranes Generation 6 mobile harbor cranes

In the first comprehensive revamp of Konecranes Gottwald’s mobile harbor crane portfolio in 15 years, Konecranes has launched its sixth generation of mobile harbor cranes.

The company, has worked closely with customers around the world while developing the new cranes and says that the result is a range of products that can eco-efficiently service essentially any type of vessel and any kind of cargo – containers, general cargo, project cargo and bulk – in any location, either on the quay or on a barge.
“These cranes represent the best of Konecranes in terms of technology and durability, and thus also strongly support our commitment to sustainability,” said Konecranes President and CEO Rob Smith. “The carbon footprint of our customers is just as important as our own, and we aim to reduce it through low-carbon, eco-efficient solutions and by extending product lifecycles in ports, factories and everywhere our products and services are used.”

Konecranes Generation 6 is designed for electrical power use; power can be sourced from an onshore grid, meaning no direct carbon emissions during operation. Operators can also choose a new battery solution that also reduces emissions and gives greater flexibility by permitting crane operation independent from the grid. For quays without a power supply, a common occurrence in developing markets, the cranes come with fuel-saving diesel generators and Konecranes’ latest hybrid drives.

In addition to lower emissions, the crane features a robust construction designed to double its the service life in container operation compared to earlier generations, and more powerful lifting capacity curves and high working speeds ensure greater efficiency and faster cargo turnaround times.

The new cranes will be equipped with smart crane features for safe, ergonomic and efficient crane operation, and will come equipped with Truconnect remote monitoring, which collects condition, usage and operating data from control systems and sensors to help with maintenance planning and predicting possible component or equipment failure.

Customers will also get access to the company’s customer portal for a comprehensive view of equipment maintenance needs and performance.

These capabilities reflect Konecranes’ investment in the growing opportunities of data. The company has a data science laboratory in Lyon, France, as part of its continuing drive to digitalize products, services, and operations, and has tapped the real-time insights from its tens of thousands of connected devices and pieces of equipment around the world to balance demand and supply in real time and navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Konecranes has also launched its online self-service Product Advisor, which gives customers the chance to configure their own cranes, facilitating the purchasing process at a time when face-to-face meetings – the main way the industry has done business for decades – can be difficult due to the pandemic.