The company develops and builds innovative vessels, advanced equipment and life-cycle support services for the dredging, mining and offshore industries, which have been performing well – despite the global economic situation and the knock-on effect for the maritime industry. In 2012, IHC Merwede reached a revenue of € 895 million and a net profit of € 37 million. After the exceptional years of 2010 and 2011, the revenue and profitability were lower last year. The main reason for lower profitability is the increased competition in IHC Merwede’s markets of dredging, mining and offshore. Despite this competition, it is encouraging to see that IHC Merwede has managed to keep a healthy profit margin, with profit figures expected to be on the rise again in 2013. With sales amounting to € 679 million, IHC Merwede assured itself of an encouraging orderbook of € 1 billion – the equivalent of approximately one year’s workload, which is the company’s target. A lack of readily available finance for customers delayed many sales agreements. IHC Merwede has now bridged this gap with a definitive list of finance options on offer, thanks to the help of banking consortium and government-driven initiatives.

IHC Merwede continued to invest strongly in product development, its worldwide networks, and marketing and sales capacities in 2012, and intends to pursue these in the years ahead. With regard to the company’s high-end equipment, it is developing technology on an ongoing basis to enhance its position as the technology innovator. However, it also recognises that many customers require more standardised and less expensive products in the current economic climate.

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), Hong Kong, China, has placed an order for a turn-key package, comprising 72 environmentally-aware battery powered Terex® Gottwald Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), along with fleet management software for the AGVs, and a battery-changing station for use in the company’s Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT), California, USA. The equipment is to be used in a completely new terminal that is currently being constructed by combining and reassigning existing terminal space and other land in the Long Beach port. With this new installation, Terex Port Solutions is now heavily involved in seven automated container terminals worldwide. This new order is not only the first for AGVs and associated equipment that has ever been placed from outside Europe, it is, at the same time, a premiere for Terex Gottwald automated container-handling solutions in the USA.

Steve Filipov, President of the Terex Material Handling & Port Solutions business segment, is pleased with this development in his home country: “This order placed by our customer, OOCL, is a logical step. We have been established among leading European terminal operators for several decades as a manufacturer and supplier of AGV technology. We consider it to be confirmation of our commitment that we have now been awarded this prestigious order, allowing us to contribute such high-grade, environmentally-aware engineering to the new low-emissions Californian container handling project. The order from OOCL affirms our position in this increasingly important market.”

Battery AGVs bridge the gap between STS and container stackyard cranes

The Terex Gottwald Battery AGVs for use in Long Beach take over the task of moving containers horizontally from the quayside to the stackyard. Each vehicle has a capacity of 70 tonnes and can transfer all standard ISO containers, including 45′ containers, from the ship-to-shore cranes to the yard, or vice versa. The first batch will be delivered to Long Beach from early 2014 and, soon after, will commence commercial operations. The remaining vehicles are to be delivered in batches over the coming years.

 Environmentally-aware container handling

Emission-free Battery AGVs are fully compatible with OOCL’s environmental vision and core value of environmental stewardship. They are also ideally suited for use in the State of California which is well-known for its strict approach to environmental legislation. The machines exceed the requirements of the Port of Long Beach by avoiding CO2, NOX and particle emissions, in line with the Port’s sustainable environmental policies.

 As was also the case with orders from European terminal operators, the order includes a battery-changing station, incorporating a pair of storage and retrieval machines operating on a single rail, which allows the batteries of two Battery AGVs to be swapped out simultaneously and highly efficiently. The unit allows the 11-tonne cell packs to be changed fully automatically.

Terminal software solutions

As well as the hardware, Terex Port Solutions will also be supplying the necessary software, including navigation and fleet management software as integral parts of the package for operating the Battery AGVs. In addition, the delivery includes the fleet management software for the new ship-to-shore and stackyard cranes which, as emphasised by Steve Filipov, “demonstrates that leading terminal operators not only count on handling machines made by TPS but also on our tailored software solutions.”

Continuous development in AGV technology – focused on the environment and efficient handling

At the end of the 1980s, Terex Port Solutions was the first company to produce AGVs, for commercial use in ports and terminals and has received orders for some 600 of these vehicles to date. In cooperation with various customers, TPS has continued to develop the machines and produce the corresponding software.

In recent years, Terex Port Solutions has pursued two parallel development paths. In view of the changed process requirements in some terminals, TPS had initially presented the Lift AGV. This enhancement meant that, by adding a pair of lifting platforms to a conventional AGV and installing container racks in the quayside interchange zones in front of the container stackyard cranes, the processes of container transport and container storage could be decoupled, which eliminated waiting time for the Lift AGVs and the stackyard cranes.

In parallel with this development, TPS dedicated itself to replacing the diesel-hydraulic drive train with a diesel-electric unit, which was then followed by a production-ready battery powered drive train. As a result, Terex Port Solutions can now boast a modular range of AGV products that perfectly meets the specific requirements of all such terminals.

The development of this advanced training tool is driven by Liebherr’s extensive experience in highly immersive crane driver training. Approved by training experts, the range of simulated cranes includes ship to shore, rubber tyre gantry, mobile harbour and offshore cranes.

Focusing on efficiency, safety & costs
Successful port operators are continuously looking for efficient ways of up skilling their employees at the highest safety level while costs including time are kept to a minimum. Liebherr Simulations (LiSIM®) offers sophisticated solutions that tick all the boxes, allowing trainees to significantly improve their skills in a realistic but virtual maritime environment.

Thanks to the virtual environment, damage to maritime equipment and injuries to port personnel are eliminated. Because training does not interfere with day to day port operations and is relatively inexpensive, trainees can spend extended time in the virtual environment, learning instinctively how to react to unexpected situations. This naturally increases safety in real cargo and container handling.

A major benefit of simulator training is the ability to simulate harsh environmental conditions when required. This allows both experienced operators and trainees to gain valuable experience operating under challenging conditions in a safe environment. The resulting increase in operator skills allows for safe and productive crane operation under similar conditions in the real world, boosting port productivity. For example, even though it may be a calm and sunny day, the trainee can practise cargo handling in harsh weather conditions such as snowfall, heavy winds, torrential rain and high waves.

The sophisticated LiSIM® environmental and physics engine allows for an unprecedented level of detail and realism. Thanks to this non-destructive virtual environment, the operator has the opportunity to learn the operational boundaries of the crane without any consequences, gaining useful experience for highly efficient crane operation.

Simulator based training avoids costly downtime and reductions in productivity caused by on-crane training. The emission and fuel-free LiSIM® training solution is in line with an eco-friendly port operation. Moreover, expensive delays in training caused by poor weather conditions are eliminated. Thanks to well-trained operators, simulators have the potential to significantly reduce accidents. Simulator based training is recognised as a cost-saving and safety improving measure.

Original software and hardware
The installation of original Liebherr drive systems, software and hardware guarantees a realistic training experience. The drive systems reproduce all crane movements exactly both in space and in real-time. LiSIM® is the only realistic virtual solution available in the market for learning the innovative and precise handling of Liebherr’s maritime cranes and their innovative features.

Trainees benefit from the ergonomically designed driver’s cabin and control panel. The motion platform ensures that the driver in a Liebherr simulator cabin experiences realistic movement which mimics precisely the response and feel of a crane mounted driver’s cabin and seat. Full High Definition flat screen monitors and high quality surround sound speakers reproduce the views and sounds typically experienced in the cabin.

Liebherr simulators are available in three configurations. The classroom solution is easily integrated into existing training centres with the display, seat and controls mounted on a base and a sturdy display frame. The space-saving cabin solution ensures that the driver becomes familiar with controlling the crane in a real life environment. The easy-to-transport containerised solution houses the simulator in a 40ft container and features a training room, utility room and cabin simulator. Each of the three models is equipped with multifunctional instructor stations.

Comprehensive functionality
In view of the varied situations which occur during cargo and container handling, comprehensive functionality is indispensable when guaranteeing an authentic simulation. Each realistic LiSIM® scenario is set in a typical maritime environment where numerous parameters can be modified according to training requirements, including day-time or night-time operation, weather conditions, kind of cargo and vessel size. Additional parameters allow for the simulation of virtually any kind of cargo or container handling situation. The implementation of customised port environments and layouts is also possible.

The multifunctional instructor station has complete control over the simulation. Thus, the instructor has the possibility to create challenging and unexpected situations for the trainee at any time. This includes heavy wind or lift object faults for example. LiSIM® has database and performance metric functionality so it is possible to track the progress of the students over time.

Successfully pretested and now available
Liebherr’s training simulator has already proven its capabilities and worth in training centres and at various exhibitions, representing one of the major attractions at the TOC Europe and the Intermodal Sao Paulo. Now this state-of-the-art training solution is available for customers all over the world who want to improve efficiency in container or cargo handling combined with increased safety and reduced costs.

“The service operation in support of Hyster products has performed well following a confident takeover by Briggs” says David Bunting, Sales Director, EMEA for Hyster. “We have had a smooth first six months, during which Briggs service has integrated with the Hyster product offering.”

Briggs Equipment is the exclusive Hyster distribution partner in the UK.

“Six months on and we are already developing our services in the UK, serving all sectors including ports and terminals, transport and logistics, paper and packaging and food and drink.” says Richard Close, CEO, Briggs Equipment UK Ltd.

One of the key themes of the outdoor Hyster stand at IMHX (International Materials Handling Exhibition) was the importance of matching the right type of truck to the specific application requirements to support the supply chain at various stages, from ship to shore to store and the shop floor.

“The right truck choice can help reduce fuel usage, optimise fleet size or reduce maintenance and day to day operating costs” adds David Bunting. “Service support is also important in order to enhance uptime and efficiency and we have already developed a strong relationship with Briggs with a good dynamic to help businesses to optimise materials handling operations.”

Hyster offers a comprehensive range of materials handling equipment, from the Hyster Big Trucks range, including empty container handlers, Hyster ReachStackers and high capacity forklift trucks for use in ports and terminals, to the lower capacity diesel, LPG and electric powered forklift trucks and various warehouse equipment such as reach trucks, pallet trucks and VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) equipment.

“Intelligently designed trucks from Hyster, combined with extensive services and unparalleled support capability from Briggs offer end-users across the UK a powerful package of services and tools to enhance their handling operations” adds David Bunting.