Innovation in automation Rocla

An aerial shot of the construction quay in Zaandam

facilities are all driven by our service department, which is available on a 24/7 basis.

Mr De Rijcke added, “Interestingly the offshore market is changing in so far as the big oil and gas companies are now seeking to rely upon the world’s shipyards to provide their entire offshore operations package. This means that gradually our customer base is changing as in the future the shipyards will be placing the orders for our products. However, we still expect to be working directly with most of our big global customers on a one-to-one basis and are extending our global reach. We recently opened new offices in Perth, Australia and in Singapore and will shortly be looking to establish a presence in South America and the Middle East.”

Two newly built 70mt boom hoist offshore pedestal cranes for the BP Magnus platform Increasing presence in Asian markets

With the manufacturing of offshore platforms becoming more focused on the Asian shipyards, the recent joint venture between Kenz Cranes and PH Hydraulics of Singapore makes sound strategic sense. The new joint venture will offer dedicated equipment for fixed platforms, FPSO’s, jack-ups, submersibles and multipurpose vessels. PH Hydraulics & Engineering is one of Asia’s leading equipment manufacturers for the offshore oil and gas industry and like Kenz Cranes, has a strong name in the provision of tailor-made offshore solutions. This joint venture will consolidate Kenz Cranes’ position as a key supplier of high-quality, cost-effective equipment in the Asian market.

New cranes serving the offshore wind-turbine industry

Following its successful delivery of the replacement crane for Seajacks Leviathan in 2012, Kenz Cranes has received a

repeat order for another 400 tonne crane to be used for the installation of offshore wind turbines. The new high-specification crane was built according to Seajacks’ Hydra detailed specifications and the company also engineered the crane’s pedestal foundation. As this particular crane is provided with an EX rated boom and designed to operate during floating conditions as well as in deep water subsea operations, it is also ideally suited for operations in the oil & gas industry.

Furthermore, Kenz Cranes recently delivered a set of three identical boom hoist cranes to BP. These custom-built cranes with a hoisting capacity of 55 tonnes each will be installed on BP’s new Clair Ridge Platforms, which are scheduled to be installed in 2013 and will come on stream in 2016. Kenz Cranes received the order from Amec, operating as EPC contractor for the Clair Ridge project. Following testing at Kenz Cranes’ facility at Zaandam, Amec’s final approval was given on 13 May this year and the cranes have since been transported to a shipyard in South Korea for final installation on the two platforms. n

For further details of Kenz Cranes’ innovative products and engineering services visit: www.kenz-figee.com

Newly built 100mt ram luffing offshore pedestal crane with Active Heave Compensation for the construction and diving vessel Constructor

INNOVATION IN AUTOMATION

Finnish-based international materials handling company Rocla has evolved from a small familyowned company into a world-class manufacturer. Industry Europe finds out about its activities and its prospects for future growth.

Established in Finland in 1942 by Evert Stigzelius, international materials handling manufacturer Rocla has grown considerably and has become a leading name in electric warehouse trucks and automated guided vehicles. Its long history gives Rocla a strong foundation from which it has built a considerable reputation for high-quality products and services, with a particular strength in adding value to its clients’ offer through skill automation.

Since 2008, Rocla has been a part of the European Mitsubishi family, following its acquisition by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group. Rocla continues to be a separate brand for forklift trucks in Finland, and for automation services in most of Europe.

Strong foundation

With the four core values of Rocla being ‘innovation, responsibility, fast in action and focus on results’, the company is guided by a continued dedication to going above and beyond what is expected. It appreciates feedback from its customers and suppliers and develops and renews its operations in accordance with that information. Working to the strict ISO 9001:2008 quality standards, Rocla is managed as one tight-knit company.

Rocla employs 400 people in Finland with a further 140 employees in subsidiaries worldwide. The head office is based in Järvenpää, near the Finnish capital Helsinki, and is easily accessible by road, rail, sea and air.

A company spokesperson told Industry Europe how the history of the company supports its activities today: “The forklift business has always been our traditional activity, and we have been able to build our portfolio by utilising our extensive process understanding. We began offering automation solutions to our clients back in 1983, so we’ve been incorporating this still-modern technology for nearly 30 years! Our impressive history of delivering automation solutions is certainly a key advantage, and one which our clients appreciate as it shows that we have an excellent understanding of their processes.”

Commercial advantage

Understanding customers is what continues to set Rocla apart from the competition, and the unique forklift/automation package it offers is one of the key ingredients in its long-term success. The company spokesperson explained, “The future of the forklift business is in the automation of the industry on a global scale. This is essentially what Rocla has brought to the Mitsubishi family, and what will cement our continued success. Having been involved in automation since 1983, our knowledge centre in Finland is an incredibly powerful asset, and one which is already bringing great results to Mitsubishi across Europe.”

It is clear that Rocla is dedicated to keeping at the forefront of the changing trends of the materials handling industry. It