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A fleet of five Mobile Harbour Cranes in the Mexican Port of Veracruz including a G HMK 7608 of the new Generation 5. |
Düsseldorf, 2. Oktober 2007 –
Thanks to a total of 14 cranes already sold to Latin America this year, the sales figures for
Gottwald Port Technology (Gottwald) for this region already exceeds those for the whole of 2006. In
addition to the 13 new Generation 5 cranes for customers in Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia
and Mexico, one used crane was sold to the Argentinian Port of Bahia Blanca. In 2007, Model 6
has turned out to be a bestseller in the region. Of the 13 new Generation 5 cranes ordered
from Gottwald, 10 were G HMK 6407 Mobile Harbour Cranes. Regional Sales Manager, Rainer
Buessing, gives the main reason for this success: "We have clearly met all our customers' demands
in terms of working speeds and radii, technical equipment and handling rates with our
Generation 5 cranes that were launched some 16 months ago. Model 6 seems as if it were
made for Latin America."
Future Success Relies on Past Knowledge
With the new Generation 5 cranes, Gottwald has once again demonstrated its technological
leading edge. Of more than 90 Gottwald cranes now in Latin America, approximately 90% have a
100-tonne lifting capacity and are frequently employed for loading and unloading containers on
ships ranging up to the post-Panamax class. Model 6, which is so successful in Latin America,
is the successor of the HMK 300 E, which, in turn, succeeded the Gottwald
HMK 280 E in the year 2000. “Higher classification, improved lifting capacity, higher
tower with simultaneously high boom pivot point and raised cab position are precisely the means of
meeting the requirements of growing container stacking heights on container ships,” says Buessing.
Brazil: The Largest Single Market in Latin America
The largest single market, with five of Generation 5 cranes, is again Brazil. In this
country with the fifth largest surface area in the world, the Gottwald fleet has increased to 23
cranes. Termaco in the Port of Fortaleza and TCP in the Port of Paranagua each ordered a
G HMK 6407 Mobile Harbour Crane. “We signed the contract with TCP during the Intermodal
trade fair in Sao Paulo,” remarks Buessing and alluded to the fact that this was not the first
contract to be signed at this leading trade fair.
WRC Operadores in the Port of Sao Francisco do Sul again opted for a G HMK 6407 and
thus has a fleet comprising two G HMK 6407 and two HMK 300 E cranes. Director
Jorge Henrique C Sampaio on this topic: “Following the positive experiences with the two
HMK 300 E cranes, which we retrofitted with 5-metre tower extensions, it was easy to make
the decision to invest in Model 6.”
Gottwald Floating Cranes – Debut in Latin America
Rainer Buessing was particularly pleased with the first order for Gottwald Floating Cranes in Latin
America: “Although they were not introduced onto the market until 2004, we already have orders for
10 Floating Cranes – all for professional bulk handling. And for two new
G HPK 7400 B Harbour Pontoon Cranes, which our new customer, MMX Mineracao e
Metalicos, will use for loading ore from barges onto sea-going vessels in mid-stream operation in
the Belem region.”
Used Cranes as a Forerunner of Success in Ecuador
In Ecuador, in the Port of Guayaquil, where Ecuaestibas has already operated two
HMK 280 E used cranes for several years, Gottwald has seen that used cranes are the
forerunner of new business. This was demonstrated in the same port when Argentina ordered a new
HMK 300 E in 2005, and there will soon be three new G HMK 6407 cranes in two
ports in Ecuador, two at the Contecon Port in Guayaquil and one at the Port of Manta, where the
Hutchison Group has signed the purchase agreement. All three new Mobile Harbour Cranes are to be
used for serving container ships ranging up to the Panamax class.
Chile: The Success Story Continues
"In Chile, too", says Rainer Buessing, "the Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane success story has
continued not just in one, but in two ports. Agunsa, a long-time Gottwald customer that operates
Mobile Harbour Cranes in different ports of the country, ordered a G HMK 6407 Mobile
Harbour Crane for handling containers in the Port of Iquique. And SVTI also relies on a Gottwald
G HMK 6407 in its terminal in the Port of San Vicente to handle containers.” Buessing is
especially pleased about this order: "With this new crane, the success story is picked up again
from the three Gottwald HMK 280 E Mobile Harbour Cranes already in operation at SVTI. At
the same time, with this order we have managed to re-secure a foothold in this port." And Felipe
Barison, General Manager at SVTI, adds: "There is no doubt in our minds that we are getting the
best possible value for our money with Gottwald's Generation 5 Harbour Cranes, knowing the
cost-efficiency and reliability of Gottwald's products thanks to Gottwald's diesel-electric drive
concept, we can anticipate the highest degree of availability with low costs for operation and
maintenance."
Mexico: Pioneer in Central America
Generation 5 has also been well received in Mexico, a fact demonstrated at the CICE group, a
Gottwald customer, who already operates a fleet of two HMK 280 E and two
HMK 300 E cranes with tower extension. The G HMK 7608 now ordered is a variant
of Model 7 and, with a lifting capacity of 140 tonnes, the most powerful Mobile Harbour
Crane in Mexico. It will be operated in the Port of Veracruz.
With New Representatives, New Cranes for Colombia
Early in 2007, SPRB opted for two G HMK 6407 Mobile Harbour Cranes for container handling
in the Port of Barranquilla. A success due, in no small part, to Hector Acuna, who, with his
company Gestion y Gerencia de Proyectos Consultorias y Asesorias Ltda. has been the representative
of the world market leader, Gottwald, for several months.
Argentina: Used Mobile Harbour Crane Ideal for Start-Up
The fact that Gottwald is also at home in Argentinean ports is proven by the purchase of a used
crane by Patagonia Norte, a recently licensed start-up company, at the Port of Bahia Blanca. The
HMK 280 E crane, from the year 2001, has already completed 18,500 operating hours and is
the perfect example of Gottwald’s used crane management which, in this case, comprises dismantling
and set-up, transport and overhaul.
A Highly Promising Market Development
Rainer Buessing gives an extremely positive report of the first nine months of the calendar year
2007: "There is no doubt that the entire Latin American region has developed into a focus market
for Gottwald. In addition to the many cranes sold, we see great potential for new orders,
particularly for Mobile Harbour Cranes of the 100-tonne class, such as the G HMK 6407,
which is already being successfully used on ships of the post-Panamax class in a number of ports.”
Zusätzliche Informationen erteilt:
Gottwald Port Technology GmbH
Postfach 18 03 43
40570 Düsseldorf
Peter Klein
Tel.: +49 (0)211 7102-3355
Fax: +49 (0)211 7102-3660
Mobil: +49 (0)173 722 10 74
peter.klein@gottwald.com
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