Rail-mounted 2000 Series E-Crane, model 17359 GA-E in operation at the Port of Kokkola in Finland.
Last month (see p103 of the August 2012 issue of Dry Cargo International), we discussed how an E-Crane on a floating terminal can be an economical solution for expanding your port infrastructure. This month, we’ll be focusing on how mobile E-Cranes are a practical solution for any mobile needs at your facility. E-Cranes can be installed on either low or high gantry portal on rails, or on crawlers.
SEPTEMBER 2012
RECENT PROJECT: PORT OF KOKKOLA Port of Kokkola, located in mid-west Finland, purchased a rail mounted 2000 Series E-Crane, model 17359 GA-E for unloading iron ore, zinc concentrate, and coal. The crane has a maximum outreach of 35 metres (117 ft) and a duty cycle capacity of 21 metric tonnes (23.1 US tons). The location of Port of Kokkola in Finland makes it a very well-known harbour with connections to other parts of Finland, both by road and rail. The port is an indispensable link in the trade between East and West by offering fast connections to Russia and to other parts of the world as well. In recent years, the port has been improving and expanding its infrastructure. After extending the ‘Deep Port’ quay, it was decided to purchase a new E-Crane to increase the port’s loading and unloading capacity. The newly installed E-Crane helped 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 transloading capacity and precise operation. The balanced, E-Crane can reach
capacities of up to 1,300tph (metric tonnes per hour) and can be operated easily, with utmost precision. Furthermore, the low energy consumption of this machine played a big part in making this choice. E-Crane’s design, a parallelogram-style boom that provides a direct mechanical connection between the counterweight and load, ensures that the E-Crane remains in near perfect balance throughout its entire working range. This reduces horsepower requirements and power consumption by up to 50% compared with conventional cranes and material handlers. The E-Crane at Port of Kokkola, baptized as Nora, now successfully loads and unloads iron ore oxide into large Handymax-sized vessels (shore-to-ship operation). More demanding jobs are no problem either; the E-Crane also offloads zinc concentrate from coasters into an existing travelling hopper, located on the side of the dock (ship-to-shore operation). The E-Crane at Port of Kokkola obtains fast cycle times of 40 seconds per cycle. Utilizing the E-Crane, equipped with a 7.5m3 hydraulic clamshell bucket grab, results in a net payload between 14 and 16 metric tonnes, and peak offloading capacities in the 1,150–1,300tph range (zinc concentrate). Nora is also equipped with E-Crane’s new remote connectivity (tele-servicing) capabilities. This allows E-Crane service engineers to remotely connect to their specific E-Crane from anywhere in the world to trouble-shoot, resolve problems, and assist with repairs of the crane. This greatly reduces
ENGINEERING & EQUIPMENT
E-Crane: practical solution for mobility requirements
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