The logistical benefits of reachstackers for particular terminal set-ups are well known. The machine’s versatility and ability to quickly manoeuvre around container terminals in tight spaces makes them invaluable to many operators.
Despite this, the market suffered with other cargo-handling divisions during the worst points of the economic downturn. Thankfully, RS manufacturers are now beginning to see an upturn in sales and recovery in order levels. There have been casualties during this time of market instability, though. As is well documented, in 2010 Italian firm CVS Ferrari Spa (Ltd) became CVS Ferrari Srl as it was taken over by US company Manitex International, after going into liquidation. Naturally, the initial focus for Manitex has been to manage CVS’s immediate recovery and its existing business across the world. As such, it is unable to report official, comprehensive sales for 2010. However, Manitex has been pleased by the business levels generated through CVS since the acquisition, including RS deliveries to Italy, Korea, China, Israel, and Algeria. Operating the business from existing locations in Cadeo, Italy, Manitex has appointed a management team under the leadership of Stefano Mercati, an “industry veteran” who most recently work with Fantuzzi. One of Liebherr’s recent developments in the RS field has been the LRS 645 LH log handling reachstacker, designed specifically for operations in the timber-handling sector. Built to optimise wood yard storage space, it is capable of handling logs for pulp and paper mills, chipboard or saw mills and wood terminals. The Liebherr Log Handler has a maximum lifting capacity of 30 tonnes at an outreach of up to 5.5 meters. The specially adapted reachstacker also of course features the company’s distinctive, curved ‘banana boom’, a unique facet of Liebherr reachstacker design. This enhances the machine’s reach, the manufacturer states, offering reach of up to 10 meters and a height of 12 meters. Liebherr adds that a further benefit of its trademark boom is its ability to handle logs from below ground level – in port operations, this is of particular importance for river- and canal-based operations. It enables what Liebherr describes as “the unique possibility of handling logs until six meters below quay.” An operational debut supplied to Szepaniak, a Finnish wood-handling specialist that operates paper and saw mills, the reachstacker’s grab can be rotated through 360 degrees and pivots forwards, backwards, and sideways. The company subsequently also signed a rental contract with Zellstoff Stendal GmbH, purportedly the largest manufacturer of craft pulp in Central Europe. Liebherr boasts that the log handler “sets new standards in terms of environmental protection, performance and economy.” With a step-less individual hydrostatic drive system fitted as standard, Liebherr states that the LRS 645 has been tested extensively in the most challenging conditions and is designed to give operators notable fuel savings. The machine is built using Liebherr’s own components and assemblies to optimise functionality and serviceability. Driver comfort and safe, accessible maintenance are also important elements of the LH LRS design; the driver’s cabin is elevated to provide the best possible view. Further safety features include a roll bar at the boom, drive wagon protection and a log pusher at the front. In its response to World Port Development’s survey on reachstackers, Konecranes highlighted a contract to supply nine reachstackers and 23 empty container handlers to Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA). This is split between 19 RS units that were ordered in October 2010 and 13 in the preceding June, with deliveries beginning in sequence from January. The final machines will arrive in mid-2011. These will be used for container handling in the ports of Shuwaikh and Shuaiba, to replace existing equipment as part of an expansion initiative across both ports. Located immediately west of Kuwait City, Shuwaikh Port serves ocean-going vessels and has ample modern container facilities, while the Port of Shuaiba, 45 kilometers southeast of the city was founded to support its industries. Particularly pleasing for the company is the manner in which it has strengthened its position as a manufacturer in the region. “This is a significant order for Konecranes and it shows that the growth strategy we have for this region is bearing fruit,” said Niklas Brönn, Managing Director of Konecranes Middle East FZE in the United Arab Emirates. “Konecranes’ good reputation and strong support from our local dealer helped us secure this order.” The cabins on these machines can be elevated in order to view the second train rails when handling containers. All cabins will also be equipped with a remote camera in order to improve safety. The reachstackers are equipped with load-sensing hydraulics that provide ‘power on-demand’ for the required weight; this is complemented by Konecranes’ Eco-Drive system, which calculates the fuel efficiency of each machine, providing an efficient platform to benchmark each unit and operator’s performance. The laden container reachstacker has a lifting capacity of 45 tonnes and can stack five containers high and three deep.
Winds of change
Among its notable projects within the market, Hyster points to a project that underlines both the versatility of reachstackers and their service to the environment: working with its UK partner Barloworld to supply heavy lift company Weldex with reachstackers for the handling of wind farm components at the Port of Mostyn in North Wales. This is a project that underlines both the versatility of reachstackers and their service to the environment. The port, which has supported several major wind power projects in the region over the last five years, handles and stores components that are manufactured in Denmark. Weldex International provides lifting solutions for Siemens Wind Power at the port and operates as a heavy lift company with specialist solutions for wind farm component handling around the globe. The two customised Hyster RS 46-41L CH reachstackers operate in unison at the port, lifting 100-tonne tower sections for the wind farm from either end, with a special attachment on the boom allowing the wind turbine tower sections to be transported from the quayside to storage faster and more efficiently. “At Mostyn we have pioneered a new method of handling these heavy loads,” said Eddie Campbell, Lifting Operations and Safety Manager for Weldex. “Hyster ReachStackers have been introduced to handle the wind farm tower sections and the hubs for the turbines. Previously we used a combination of crawler cranes and multi-axle trailers.” The reachstackers are also required to individually handle 50-tonne hubs for the wind turbine with a special attachment, and Barloworld has
worked closely with Hyster’s Special Engineering Department to ensure the reachstackers provide full flexibility for Weldex. In citing this example, Hyster points to the versatility of reachstackers, which, although typically associated with both container handling and intermodal handling in high density container stacking applications, are becoming the solution to an increasingly wide range of cargo-handling requirements. The series is available with a clean-running diesel engine, oil-immersed brakes, robust drive-axle, power train protection and advanced auto-shift transmission. In terms of new developments within its portfolio of reachstackers, Hyster very recently – in February – announced the launch of a new range of low emission machines for high-performance container handling. The manufacturer claims that this new generation of its reachstackers can deliver fuel savings of more than 15%. Redesigned to meet the requirements of Tier 4 interim(i), Stage IIIB emissions regulations, the larger models in the Hyster Big Truck range are built using the new Cummins QSL9 -350hp engine (the Cummins QSM11, 300hp and 350hp versions remain available for Tier 3 compliant trucks). The transmission available with this new engine option is the TE-27 series, with the TE-32 available as an option. The engine features cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) combined with an enhanced High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system to provide cleaner and more efficient combustion. The fully integrated Cummins Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) also reduces particulate emissions by more than 90%. The new Cummins engines supply rapid boost at a low engine rpm and then maintain high boost at a higher rpm independent of engine speed, achieved with the Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT), which varies the exhaust gas flow into the turbine wheel.
To complement the Cummins engine technologies, Hyster has introduced a range of further developments that includes cooling on demand, load-sensing hydraulics, RPM management and alternate engine idle speed, to help further reduce the total fuel consumption in all applications. Operators can also select either an ECO-eLo “fuel efficiency” or HiP “high performance” mode. The HiP is the normal operating mode, while the ECO-eLo mode reduces the maximum engine speed and optimises fuel efficiency. Delivered with the Powered Sliding Cab as standard to optimise driver visibility, the Hyster Vista cab design has been developed to provide optimised ergonomics for the operator. This includes fully hydraulic brakes and an automotive-style pedal layout, with autoshift transmissions offering power and control to the driver with smooth gear changes. The series is available in a range of configurations for container handling and intermodal handling, stacking up to six-high and three rows deep.
Common Ground
This small selection of case studies and stories of product developments provides just a general overview of the current happenings and trends in a global reachstacker market with plenty more depth. From an orders perspective, manufacturers are seeing encouraging signs to suggest that RS sales can weather these challenging financial times, while the common facets in focus across product development are based around versatility, ecology, and those aforementioned benefits of meeting specific terminals’ infrastructural needs. Adaptable, quick, and optimised to minimise environmental and fiscal waste, the reachstacker is a machine that continues to change and evolve around operators’ requirements.