Kalmar has signed a contract with The Bristol Port Company to upgrade the ship-to-shore (STS) crane at one of its terminals.
The crane in question was manufactured by Japanese company NKK in 1988 and the upgrade will involve a full strip-down of the existing electrical and mechanical systems.
All mechanical systems, including sheaves, brakes and gearboxes, will be replaced or modernized by Kalmar, while the electrical system will be completely replaced by Kalmar’s consortium partner TES Industrial Systems.
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Director of Engineering at The Bristol Port Company, James Overthrow, commented: “We chose to partner with Kalmar because of their proven track record in crane construction and retrofit projects.
“It is critical to ensure that our STS cranes remain safe and reliable, and we are confident that working with Kalmar will deliver the best possible results for our business, both in terms of safety and productivity.”
Director of Crane Upgrades EMEA North at Kalmar, Bob van Kampen, said: “STS cranes are a key component in the success of any container terminal regardless of size, so we are pleased to be able to help The Bristol Port Company improve the reliability, safety and productivity of their existing equipment.
“Thanks to the outstanding technical capabilities of our crane upgrades team, we were able to provide a proposal that meets their needs precisely and keeps crane downtime to a minimum.”
Read a sample of the latest upcoming technical paper from Kalmar — “Terminal Automation Platforms: Open Interfaces” — on Port Technology
The upgrades are set to improve the cranes' performance and extend its operational lifespan.
The port of Bristol is located at the mouth of the River Avon in south-west England and can handle vessels up to 130,000 dead-weight tonnes (DWT) over its 10 square kilometre area.
