Bromma first quarter orders were widespread across all regions. In Latin America, where Bromma set a 2011 record for crane spreader sales (130 units), first quarter 2012 orders included 5 separating twin-lift spreaders to ICTSI Manzanillo, Mexico; 6 yard all-electric spreaders to Terminal Especializado de Contendor, Terminal Maritimo Buenaventura, Colombia; 3 Greenline™ all-electrics for Exolgan in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and 7 separating twin-lift STS spreaders for Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Barranquilla in Colombia. Other significant first quarter orders also included, in Malaysia, 10 Greenline™ all-electrics to Northport and 4 STS45 separating twin-lift STS spreaders to Westport; in Jordan, 8 crane spreaders (3 ship-to-shore separating twins plus 5 yard twin-lift separating twins) to the Port of Aqaba; and in Turkey, 10 Greenline™ all-electrics to the Port of Mersin.
In the mobile harbour crane spreader segment, Bromma’s order book remains robust. The industry’s leading supplier of spreaders for mobile harbour crane spreader applications, Bromma won contracts for a total of 59 mobile harbour crane spreaders during the first quarter of 2012 from a variety of MHC manufacturers.
In the automated terminal segment, in the first quarter of 2012 Bromma recorded orders for another 20 crane spreaders for automated terminals. Bromma’s most recent substantial automated terminal orders are for the London Gateway project in the United Kingdom and the Trapac terminal project in Los Angeles. In each case orders were for Bromma’s pioneering all-electric spreaders, which are being specified due to their inherent reliability, fewer service points, lighter weight, and the absence of any hydraulics,
Inquiries pertaining to automated operations remain strong, and Bromma continues to be the first mover in spreaders for automated terminals, with nearly 400 crane spreaders today on order or in service at automated operations. Earlier Bromma automated terminal orders (in 2011) have included such sizable projects as contracts for 34 all-electric crane spreaders to Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi, and 40 all-electric crane spreaders to Barcelona in Spain.
New Orders for Container Weight Verification Technology
Container weight verification continues to be an area of growing customer interest, particularly as a result of recent calls from the World Shipping Council and International Chamber of Shipping for the International Maritime Organization to mandate container weight verification prior to stowage and export. This proposed new requirement from IMO would have a required implementation target of 2013. Bromma container weight verification technology (container weighing from sensors located in the spreader twistlocks) is an ideal way to implement the proposed 2013 requirement, as spreader-based weight verification is more accurate (container weight accuracy to within 1%) than crane container-weighing technology (crane container-weighing technology is typically accurate only to within 10% of actual weight). In addition, when containers are weighed by the spreader such weight verification can be accomplished during the normal container handling process (no extra steps are required.) By comparison, containers weighed on a separate weigh bridge require the added time to weigh and transport for weighing each container.
In the first quarter 2012 Bromma recorded new container weight verification technology orders for 21 crane spreaders, roughly equal to Bromma’s prior entire load sensing system order total. Bromma today has more than 40 weight verification spreaders in service or on order, including at terminals in China, Brasil, and the United Kingdom. Container weight verification has both safety and operational planning benefits. From a safety standpoint, Bromma load sensing technology creates a safer lifting environment, and from an operational standpoint, it aids in container stacking planning.