The space-saving design of the TKK39 impresses with, among other things, its installation height of only 142 mm – in comparison to alternative solutions, Tsubaki Kabelschlepp was able to reduce the installation height by 65 %. The energy chain can be used when both self-supported and gliding. It supports speeds of up to 3 m/s and accelerations of 9 m/s2. Short steel connecting elements allow for swift and easy assembly – they are directly bolted onto the console or support. The chain links are made entirely of plastic, whereby Tsubaki Kabelschlepp also offers hybrid chains with aluminum stays and steel chains as an alternative to this particular weight-optimized version.

“Our new TKK series was specifically designed for use in lifting devices, areal lifts and platforms”, explains Werner Eul, Product Manager Cable Carrier Systems at Tsubaki Kabelschlepp. “Due to the compact arrangement of the telescopic boom, large extension lengths are possible and the high torsional rigidity provides a straight extension.” These properties have a positive effect in other application areas: For example, in agricultural, municipal and construction machinery, in drilling or in the cement industry. “In general, the TKK39 proves itself wherever harsh environmental conditions meet limited design space and good lateral stability and torsional rigidity are required,” said Werner Eul.

In lifting devices, energy chains in an external arrangement are exposed to the weather conditions and, depending on the application, can be affected by dirt or falling objects. To ensure smooth operation despite these difficult conditions, the cable carriers of the TKK series are equipped with a dust, dirt and chip-proof stroke system as standard. The dirt simply runs off the very smooth surface. Also the energy chain is self-cleaning in movable applications: Specially installed bevels break up the dirt so that it can then be discharged – a compacting or caking is therefore avoided.

The divider construction of the TKK39 is also ingenious: The cable carrier is equipped with lockable brackets for optimal cable protection which swivel inwardly at any position

depending on the stay variant. Dividers which are adjustable or fixable in 2 mm increments together with a flexible height separation made of plastic or aluminum enable optimal separation of the cables.

Peel Ports beat off stiff competition in the category, which recognises the most innovative infrastructure across the UK’s wider logistics sector.

One of the UK’s largest port groups, Peel Ports was recognised by Multimodal judges for a ground-breaking year which saw the group open its container terminal expansion project, Liverpool2, last November.

In Liverpool2, Peel Ports has created a state-of-the-art freight gateway. As the UK’s most centrally located, deep-water container terminal, Liverpool2 offers import and export companies located in the North West ‘ship-to-door’ solutions via sustainable transport routes such as the Manchester Ship Canal.

The group, which also owns and operates Manchester’s Port Salford warehouse and distribution centre complex, was also commended for its ambitious development plans across the North West.

During Multimodal, Peel Ports announced that it had met its target of securing 200 advocates for its campaign to encourage shipping lines to introduce direct deep-sea services to the Port of Liverpool in a bid to save 200 million road and rail freight miles by 2020. The milestone was announced on 5 April at Multimodal, two years since the campaign was launched at the same event.

Now in its tenth year, Multimodal is the UK and Ireland’s premier freight transport, logistics and supply chain management event, and is held in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the FTA (Freight Transport Association).

Patrick Walters, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports, said: “To be recognised by the industry as having developed the most innovative infrastructure of the past year is an excellent achievement, and is testament to the hard work and dedication shown by our colleagues across the organisation. After a year that saw us put Liverpool and the North West back on the international trading map, this award caps off what has been a truly ground-breaking year for the business. We now look ahead to the rest of 2017 and the challenges that lie ahead. We look forward to welcoming more services to Liverpool and seeing the entire supply chain benefit from the outstanding multimodal connectivity Liverpool has with the rest of the UK.”

Andrew Jones, Graphic Designer at Peel Ports, was also highly commended in the Young Logistics Professional of the Year category, which recognises people under 32 in the industry with a proven track record.

The new machines, sold through Konecranes’ local distributor Equipamentos para portos LTDA (Equiport), will enable Brado to face the challenges of a constantly growing market. Together with a larger TFC 46 LSX reachstacker, the TFC 45 H will be delivered to Brado’s intermodal terminal in Rondonopolis, in the Central-Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. The third machine, another TFC 45 H, will instead be operating at Brado’s container terminal in Araraquara, 250 km northwest of Säo Paulo.

Luiz Elia, Maintenance Manager, Brado explains “In our terminals all over Brazil, we already successfully operate ten Konecranes Liftace reachstackers. With these three new machines we will substantially extend our handling capabilities. The TFC 46 LSX with its longer wheelbase provides high stability and offers a lifting capacity of 36 tonnes at 6.4 meters. This makes it an ideal reachstacker to work at two railway lines and will help us to accelerate our operations in Rondonopolis, where we are handling at least one train per day.”

With the new machines, Brado continues to rely on productive and economical reach stackers, which are simple to operate and maintain and enjoy a high popularity in Brazil. Elisio Garcia Jr., Executive Director, Equiport says “We have sold Konecranes Liftace machines for more than 20 years, and are proud that the TFC 45 H reach stacker is today the number one choice for the handling of full standard containers in Brazil. Customers appreciate above all the reliability and durability of this robust reachstacker as well as of other Konecranes Liftace machines.”

The Konecranes Liftace family includes eight reachstackers and empty container handlers respectively. “All Konecranes Liftace machines in Brazil are marketed by Equiport, who is one of our most proven dealers around the globe. The 500th reachstacker confirms our successful collaboration, and Equiport will from now on also distribute the products of our Konecranes Lift Truck product line. Thus, our Brazilian customers will, via Equiport, have access to both the value for money Konecranes Liftace machines, and to a smart range of customized lift trucks for optimized performance.” concludes Andreas Falk, Sales & Marketing Director of Konecranes Lift Trucks.