Speaking from Madrid, where Konecranes announced the partnership during its annual management conference, President and CEO Panu Routila spoke about the values and strategic intent that underpin the agreement:
“Valtteri has all the makings of a true champion and we’re thrilled to work together with him on this mutually-beneficial co-operation,” says Routila. “It’s still early in the 2017 motorsports season and Valtteri already has some great results with his new team, which makes the partnership even more exciting.”

“Around the globe Konecranes is recognized for being a technology leader, specifically in the areas that are core to any lifting operation: the gears, the motor and the controls,” continues Routila. “Together with new services like Konecranes TRUCONNECT® for remote monitoring, our business has strong parallels with the motorsports world, where top performance is also dependant on innovative technology, excellent teamwork and relentless focus.”
In the coming months, existing and potential customers of Konecranes will see the partnership come to life across the web, social media, outdoor advertising, videos, events and more. Bottas will also place the Konecranes logo on his personal website and social media domains, as well as on his race overalls.

Bottas, fresh from a weekend of racing in Barcelona, was also in Madrid for the launch event. He spoke about his motivation for choosing to work with Konecranes.
“I’m very happy to make an agreement of this kind with Konecranes, a company that aligns so well with my background and what I personally believe in,” says Bottas. “This is about having proud roots in Finland, yet working around the world. About using cutting-edge technology and purpose-built equipment that brings together some of the best engineering and teamwork on the planet. And about focusing on being the best at what you do – yet never losing sight of where you come from.”

Bottas’s agent Ville Ahtiainen, who represents the driver for all his personal marketing deals, says the agreement with Konecranes is all about mutual benefit and respect. “The best and most fruitful marketing partnerships are those where the parties truly believe in each other and see the world in the same way,” says Ahtiainen. “This is exactly how it is for Konecranes and Valtteri Bottas. It really is an ideal match.”

Since 2015 a specialised department, namely the Liebherr Maritime Service Factory, has been dealing exclusively with refurbishment projects.

This department carries out extensive renovation work on used products from the whole range of Liebherr maritime products, without direct dependence on the manufacture of new products. Service activities extend from the repair and exchange of single parts and components up to the complete overhaul of machines with a high number of operating hours.

The latest overhauling project was a mobile harbour crane type LHM 180 build in 2008. Used under permanent load for the last nine years in the harbour of Figueira de Foz / Portugal the machine was delivered from its former owner to Liebherr in Rostock in April 2015. Upon the arrival at Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH, the mobile harbour crane passed through a profound restauration in various components of the machine. Extensive overhauls and optimisations were carried out on the steel construction of the undercarriage, the slewing platform and the tower. The whole overhauling process including refurbishment of electrical parts took twelve month and involved a team comprising 30 Liebherr employees. After finishing the overhaul, the mobile harbour crane was bought by Petrokemija d.o.o. in Croatia where it was assembled and put back into service by the middle of March 2017. The LHM 180 has a maximum outreach of 35 metres and a maximum capacity of 35 tonnes (grab operation) and is now used for bulk and general cargo handling in the port of Sibenik/ Croatia. Such successful overhauling projects prove both the efficiency of the Liebherr Maritime Service Factory in Rostock as well as the quality of Liebherr maritime products.

Demand for Overhauls increases
Liebherr Maritime is recording an increasing number of orders for machine overhauls. Eventually, every machine achieves a certain amount of operating hours and the owner has to decide whether to overhaul the existing machine or buy a new one. The purchase of a second-hand or overhauled machine is often an inexpensive and economic alternative. Despite low investment, no concessions need to be made in terms of quality of manufacture, customer services and support, or safe operation of the machine. Additionally, it is ensured that the machine fulfils the proven quality requirements of a Liebherr product, as there is no dealer or external repair service involved. Overhauling existing equipment is also an ideal solution for operating companies that value familiar technology and rely on personnel that is specifically trained for the operation of existing machines, as no additional resources are required for adjustment processes.

The increasing attractiveness of overhauled cargo handling machines and components is reflected in the order situation of the Liebherr Maritime Service Factory in Rostock. Since 2013 the number of orders for part and general overhauls on maritime products from Liebherr has more than doubled. In 2016, nine overhaul projects have been completed in Rostock.