MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET), the single largest container terminal in Europe, has ensured that more than 150 Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers will continue to be serviced after signing a deal with Konecranes' Antwerp-based service organization.
Konecranes aims to ensure a consistently high level of availability for the entire machine fleet by performing all of the maintenance and repair work for different generations of machines.
MPET handles the majority of containers at the Port of Antwerp and saw steady growth in 2016.
Read about terminal handling performance in Konecranes' research paper, 'Automation and Electric Drives', written by Dr-Ing Armin Wieschemann, Senior Director of Global System Development
Randy Verresen, Manager Rolling Equipment at Antwerp Terminal Services NV, service organization of PSA Antwerp and MPET, said: “Last year, we exceeded the 10 million TEU mark for the first time, which led to an increasing need for new machines.
“As a result, our fleet of Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers has expanded by almost 100 machines in the past twelve months.
“To keep the availability of the straddle carriers as high as possible, we are now entrusting the service work on the machines to their manufacturer Konecranes.
“We are certain that we are well-equipped for the anticipated continued growth of the terminal over the long term.”
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Tom Cerpentier, Regional Director Port Services, Konecranes, said: “Antwerp is one of the most important ports for us. In addition to straddle carriers, other types of Konecranes port equipment such as mobile harbor cranes (MHCs), automated stacking cranes (ASCs) and lift trucks that are operated by various customers in the port need to be serviced and maintained.
“This is why our on-site service team comprises a total of 18 technicians and will now be strengthened by another 16 service experts specifically as part of the service agreement concluded with MPET for the straddle carriers.”