Konecranes Retrofits Crane in DP World Liège

Konecranes Port Services, the team of crane and lifting engineers, software developers and product technicians, will retrofit electrification to a Model 2 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor crane in DP World’s Liège Container Terminal in Belgium, lowering the terminal’s local emissions and noise.

The Port of Liège, strategically located along the Meuse river in eastern Belgium,  is the third-largest river port in Europe, directly linked to both Antwerp and Rotterdam.

The DP World Liège Container Terminal (DPW LCT) is the only trimodal terminal in Wallonia, operating four barges to Antwerp every week.

The Konecranes Gottwald Model 2 Mobile Harbor Crane was purchased in 2016 and has been working at DPW LCT’s South Terminal. In September 2019, it will be moved from the South Terminal to the North Terminal to meet expanded productivity demands in that area of the Port.

Ordinarily, Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbor cranes are easily transported by barge, but in this instance the bridge network does not permit transport in this way, so Konecranes Port Services will dismantle the crane at the South Terminal and reassemble it in the new location.

As part of an overall ambition to minimize its environmental impact, the Terminal will take advantage of the move to retrofit its Konecranes Gottwald Model 2 with electrification, so it can be connected to the electricity grid – ensuring lower emissions and lower noise levels.

The retrofit will include a cable reel system, allowing the crane to move 150m from the point of connection. If the crane’s electrical system requires maintenance, or if the power supply is disrupted, uptime will be ensured by the existing diesel engine which will become the crane’s backup power supply.

The contract win underscores Konecranes commitment to helping customers achieve the highest lifecycle value of their equipment. The agreement also supports Konecranes belief in the growing opportunities of the circular economy, and the company’s commitment to deliver savings to customers via repairing, modernizing, reusing, and recycling products.