Konecranes has successfully completed a full-year testing of its hybrid reach stacker at the Port of Helsingborg on the south-west coast of Sweden.
The units will now join the Finnish crane manufacturer’s existing fleet of 15 reach stackers and forklifts currently in operation at the port.
The hybrid reach stacker, launched in January 2013, features a serial hybrid diesel/electric driveline, an electrified hydraulic closed circuit lifting system and super capacitor-based energy storage.
During the testing phase the machines demonstrated a saving on fuel consumption of between 30 and 50 percent during normal handling of fully loaded containers compared to conventional reach stackers. Furthermore, the tested machines’ reduced emissions of CO2 by 80 tonnes.
“We are very happy with the performance of the machine and not just on the fuel saving and reduction of the CO2 emission,” says Mats Fernebrand, purchasing manager, Port of Helsingborg.
“The machine’s reliability, performance and driver comfort have exceeded our expectations.”
Due to the global interest in the hybrid reach stacker, which was recently awarded FLTA’s (Fork Lift Truck Association) excellence award in the environmental category, Konecranes has decided to offer serial produced hybrid reach stackers. The lessons from the field testing will be used to further improve productivity and energy efficiency while engineers continue to work on lowering the emissions of pollutants and noise.
“The completion of our field tests has confirmed that the hybrid reach stacker offers unparalleled savings on running costs and energy consumption,” says Lars Fredin, vice-president and head of business unit lift trucks, Konecranes.
“These efficiencies are ideal for clients looking to be frontrunners in eco-efficient technology without compromising on heavy lifting performance.”
