The Port of Veracruz, on Mexico’s south-east coast about 300 km from Mexico City, is Mexico’s oldest, largest and most historically important sea port. It serves all of central and southern Mexico through railways and roads with global sea connections. The port has very ambitious plans for expansion, with two new container terminals in the works and the Panama Canal expansion project due for completion early in 2016.
Grupo CICE, one of the most important port operators in Veracruz with its multipurpose terminal handling various vehicle types and materials including agricultural grain and minerals, has ordered two RTGs from Konecranes. Grupo CICE has been operating Konecranes lift trucks for a number of years. The cranes will be delivered at the end of 2016.
The Konecranes RTGs on order are 16-wheel machines with a lifting capacity of 40 LT, lifting 1-over-5 high and 7-plus-truck lane wide. They will be equipped with Konecranes’ Active Load Control system, which eliminates container sway to increase container handling performance. They will also be equipped with Konecranes Diesel Fuel Saver technology.
The cranes will also be equipped with the Konecranes Auto-steering feature, which keeps the crane on a pre-programmed, straight path during gantry travel, and the safety-enhancing feature Stack Collision Prevention. TRUCONNECT, a remote service that provides 24/7 access to a network of support centers, offering expertise to help solve problems and reduce downtime, will be part of the picture.
“The confidence that Grupo CICE has placed in Konecranes will be rewarded with first-rate container handling performance and reliability when the RTGs enter service. I look forward to delivering and commissioning the cranes, and working with Grupo CICE in the future,” said Alfredo Ramirez, Konecranes, Port Cranes, Latin America.
“Due to the experience we already have with Konecranes, GRUPO CICE has decided to rely on their equipment and is proud to announce the acquisition of two RTGs. They will arrive by the end of this year. With this order, we want to optimize the productivity of our operations and offer a better service to our customers, handling their cargo more efficiently, and attracting new customers,” said Grupo CICE. “Currently, our company handles approximately 4 million tons of goods annually. With the two new cranes, we intend to increase the volume of our operations in our facilities.”