The contract for the exclusive worldwide distribution of this type of crane was officially signed on the 27th of May of this year. This contract follows the successful cooperation between Heila Cranes and Van Aalst Bulk Handling that started more than 20 years ago.

Both organisations are convinced that their renewed cooperation will ensure that even better service is offered to the customers. It will allow Heila Cranes and Van Aalst Bulk Handling to cooperate even better on innovation in this specific market to retain their technical lead. It will also improve the entire service and create clarity for the customers.

Giampiero Traetta, CEO of Heila Cranes: “We are delighted to further strengthen our cooperation. In recent years, Heila has invested heavily in improving the manipulators. We reviewed and improved the structure and the control system, giving our product an advanced lead. We consider it important that our customers have the best solutions available always and everywhere. Moreover, Van Aalst Bulk Handling represents an excellent example of the service that we wish to provide the end customers. We also benefit technically from the contribution and suggestions made by Van Aalst Bulk Handling.

Arno van Aalst, Managing Director of Van Aalst Bulk Handling: “We are extremely pleased that we have been able to make our cooperation with Heila Cranes official. The distribution contract is a logical step that follows on from the good relations between the two companies. Heila supports the worldwide service and the delivery of spare parts. The customers will benefit from this enormously. Heila has succeeded in developing a manipulator that meets the high demands of our customers. We look forward to extending our cooperation.”

During the contract signing ceremony, Arno van Aalst and Giampiero Traetta expressed their confidence in each other.

“Hitech will play an important role in supporting the sale and service of our products in this important region, where we see a growing demand for automatic lubrication and safety systems, in particular in port and construction equipment, as well as in public transport”, commented Johan Bood, sales director Bus & Port equipment of Groeneveld Lubrication Solutions

Singapore-based Hitech Auto is in specialized service and parts supply to port operators, including PSA where the company has a dedicated service team at location. The company is familiar with all kind of port equipment and has the skills and experience to install and service Groeneveld automatic lubrication systems on terminal tractors, as well as on spreaders, reach stackers and other equipment.

“Our prime focus for the Groeneveld product will be on the port and industry sectors in Singapore and Malaysia, where we expect to steadily branch out to other sectors in trucks & trailers, bus & coach and construction and mining equipment in the future. In addition we do not exclude to represent Groeneveld in other countries in the area, making use of the existing Terberg Malaysia Tractors network’, said Thomas Lee, Director of Hitech Auto Pte Ltd.

Quality solutions
“The acceptance of quality products and solutions is growing rapidly in the Asian market, where uptime, productivity and efficiency are as important as anywhere else in the world. In particular in port operations machine availability is crucial, as is safety. We are confident that the industry-leading products of Groeneveld will proof their value in many segments in the markets where we are present”, Thomas Lee underlines. With increased efficiency, reliability and uptime on the one hand, and reduced maintenance costs and enhanced safety on the other, we are convinced that the Malaysian and Singapore markets are ready for the high-end solutions that Groeneveld offers.”

Solid partner
“With their experienced service team and the back-up of a strong parent company, Hitech is a solid partner for Groeneveld and its customers in the region, both end-users in different segments and OEMs. Also the link with Terberg makes Groeneveld and Hitech a logic and solid combination”, Johan Bood commented, while explaining: “Hitech Auto Pte Ltd. is a daughter company of Terberg Tractors Malaysia, a 50/50 joint venture between Sime Darby Industrial and the Dutch Terberg Group. Already for decades Groeneveld Group supplies automatic lubrication systems for ex-factory install to Terberg in the Netherlands, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of terminal tractors and shunt trucks.” Terberg Tractors Malaysia has as modern manufacturing operation in Pasir Gugang, Johor, where it produces Terberg terminal tractors for markets in South-East Asia.

The agreement was signed yesterday (24 October) by Jorge L. Quijano, Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and Mark Whitworth, Chief Executive of Peel Ports Group, during a formal visit to the Port of Liverpool by a senior delegation from Panama.

High profile Panamanian government and business leaders including Roberto Roy, Minister of Canal Affairs, and Alejandro Moreno, Deputy Administrator of Panama Maritime Authority were shown around the port by Peel Ports’ Chief Operating Officer Gary Hodgson.

They were joined by the UK’s Panama Ambassador, Ian Collard, and Ariel Perez Price, the UK’s Director of International Trade in Panama.

The formal agreement creates a strategic alliance aimed at facilitating international trade and generating new business by promoting trade routes between Liverpool and the west coast of South America via the Panama Canal.

Mark Whitworth said: “Liverpool and Panama have both responded to the growth of the global container ship fleet with major investment programmes in recent years to accommodate newer generations of container ships. The opening of the expanded canal has the potential to open up new markets for trade and has the potential to shift international trade patterns.

“We see exciting times ahead for Liverpool, with improved trade connectivity and business opportunities between the UK and South America, which will not only generate economic growth but also create jobs and increase revenues.”

HMA Dr Ian Collard added: “We have hit an exciting moment in the engagement between Panama and Liverpool. The Panama Canal Authority has made considerable investments in recent years to expand its lock gates and thereby unlock the potential for a new generation of Neo-Panamax vessels to cross quickly between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. At the same time, the development of Liverpool2 provides an opportunity for the Port of Liverpool to develop its role as a destination for these larger vessels and create a new stream of traffic across the Atlantic. Today is the start of what I hope will be a new chapter in Liverpool-Panama relations.”

Other visitors to the port included Ivan de Icaza, President of the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Surse Peirpoint, General Manager of the Colón Free Trade Zone, and Leroy Sheffer, President of COEL (Logistics Business Council).

In June this year, Peel Ports’ executives were VIP guests of the Mayor of Panama during the inauguration ceremony of the newly expanded Panama Canal. During the visit they met key Panamanian political and business leaders as part of the canal expansion event, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Panama Canal Authority.