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Two G HMK 7408 Mobile Harbour Cranes handling containers at Ayala Colón |
Düsseldorf, 13. März 2007 –
With a record number of orders in 2006, coupled with particularly strong performance of the new
Generation 5 of Harbour Cranes and a host of new orders and projects underway for 2007, Gottwald
Port Technology is further strengthening its position in Latin America.
During the past ten years, Gottwald’s performance in this strategically important region has
always been strong with sales of between five and eight Harbour Cranes annually. 2006, however, was
an exceptional year. Of the 82 cranes sold worldwide, 11 units plus one used crane were ordered
from both new and existing customers in Latin America. These orders include two G HMK 7408 and
three G HMK 7608 cranes for Puerto Rico, two G HMK 6407 and two HMK 300 E cranes for Brazil, two
HMK 300 E cranes for Mexico and one HMK 300 E crane for Chile.
With seven of these cranes being Generation 5 units, Gottwald’s latest Harbour Crane generation launched in spring 2006 has topped expectations by far and contributed substantially to the company’s strong performance in Latin America. “We can look back on more than 10 years of successful operation in this region and I am especially pleased about the fact that a number of customers have decided to rely on Gottwald’s Generation 5 to upgrade their ports and terminals. The phenomenal success of the Generation 5, which was not only achieved in Latin America but worldwide, continues the tradition of our highly popular Generation 4 that was phased out partially last year but still sold well,” says Andreas Moeller, Senior Sales Manager and Deputy Sales Director of Gottwald Port Technology.
In the early 90ies, Argentina was the first Latin American country to discover the advantages of the Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes with the diesel-electric drive.
To date, Gottwald has sold a total of more than 80 cranes to this region, with Brazil being currently the most important market with 18 units, followed by Mexico
(16 units), Chile (14 units) and Puerto Rico (11 units). In addition, Gottwald’s Harbour Cranes can be found in Argentina, the Bahamas, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
“These are important achievements,” says Rainer Buessing, Regional Sales Manager of Gottwald Port Technology. And in view of the fact that the growth trend in Latin America is likely to continue in the years to come, he is convinced that the number of terminal operators opting for Gottwald will also grow further. “Lifting capacities of up to 200 tonnes on hook and a 63-tonnes grab curve, increased handling speeds and higher crane classification, an unprecedented wealth of variants plus numerous innovative features, such as the radio remote control, make the Generation 5 a top-of-the-range product in terms of performance, reliability and productivity. A flexible, versatile solution for efficient cargo handling on all vessel sizes, in all types of terminals,” he says. “The references of 2006 and the current order book for 2007 are proof that our Generation 5 is a very popular product for the cargo handling market.”
Puerto Rico was the first country in Latin America to welcome the new Generation 5 from Gottwald in 2006. In the Port of San Juan, which is with 1.7m TEUs p.a. the largest container port in the Caribbean, Gottwald’s longstanding customer International Shipping Agency, Inc. (Intership) has expanded its container handling fleet with three 140-tonne G HMK 7608 cranes to deal with growing quantities and the increasing number of Panamax vessels. “We were particularly impressed by how soon after ordering in March 2006 we were able to put the cranes into service in the terminal,” says Intership’s COO Anthony Vazquez. And commenting on the first five months of commercial operation, Vazquez says: “Our expectations regarding the reliability and handling performance of the G HMK 7608 cranes have been completely met. Thanks to the high handling rates we guarantee our customers the shortest processing and thus minimum ship berthing times. We attribute the high handling rates and the reliability of the cranes both to proven technology, including high hoisting speeds and easy operation, and to intensive training of crane drivers and service personnel provided by Gottwald. We would like to thank Gottwald for the excellent support and look forward to continuing our successful co-operation.”
Another two Generation 5 cranes have been handed over to the Ayala Colón Group, also located in the Port of San Juan. Ayala Colón that has been operating one Gottwald crane since 1994 opted for two 100-tonne G HMK 7408 units, also for its increasing container handling operations.
The success of 2006 has continued in 2007 with orders flooding in. “Since the beginning of this year, we have already received a remarkable number of orders for Generation 5 cranes from the region,” says Moeller. “In addition, there are a number of projects underway.”
Buessing sums up: “The increasing demand demonstrates that our new Mobile Harbour Crane concept is optimally suited to meeting the increasing requirements of international stevedoring companies.” According to him, a crucial factor in this respect is Gottwald’s strong reputation. “Last year the company sold its 1,000th crane. Generation 5 is the product of continuous development, combining innovation with proven technology, such as the renown Gottwald-typcial diesel-electric-drive. And the high level of customer satisfaction is not only reflected in the high number of repeat customers, serving as an excellent reference to attract new customers, but also in the popularity that our cranes enjoy on the market for used cranes.”
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