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Gottwald in the Wake of Time

In 2006, Gottwald Port Technology celebrated its centenary –
100 years of continuity, pioneering spirit and innovation strength.

Milestones

1906	The company that is now Gottwald Port Technology GmbH is founded under the name of “Maschinenindustrie Ernst Halbach” in Düsseldorf, Germany.

1917	The company is renamed “Maschinen- und Kranbau AG – MUKAG”. The range of products includes rail-mounted steam- driven cranes and excavators, steam pile- driving machines and drop pile hammers.

1926	Consul General Leo Gottwald, banker and entrepreneur, acquires a majority share in “MUKAG”. In 1928, he becomes the sole owner.

1936	“MUKAG” is renamed “Leo Gottwald KG”. The range of products is expanded once again.

1950	Gottwald launches the “MK 1”, the first mobile crane on pneumatic tyres – a revolutionary design for that time.

1956	Gottwald invents the world's first ever Mobile Harbour Crane, still based on the chassis used for truck-mounted cranes (Mobile Harbour Crane Generation 1).

1959	The first Gottwald truck-mounted crane is launched.

1966	Gottwald launches the first ever truck- mounted telescopic crane to be series-manufactured in Germany.

1978	Gottwald launches Mobile Harbour Cranes with a specially designed chassis and with the first ever enclosed superstructure to meet the requirements for cargo-handling in ports and terminals (Mobile Harbour Crane Generation 2).

1985	The Mobile Harbour Crane first introduced with an A-frame-type tower and completely new chassis (Mobile Harbour Crane Generation 3).

1988	The first AGV Automated Guided Vehicle is developed and built. Gottwald is acquired by “Mannesmann Demag AG” and integrated in the “Mannesmann Demag Baumaschinen” segment.

1995	The first Mobile Harbour Crane in which all the machinery and drive assemblies are integrated in the superstructure (Mobile Harbour Crane Generation 4).

1998	The first HSK Portal Harbour Crane based on Gottwald's Mobile Harbour Crane technology; enables railway trains, road trucks and conveyor belts to operate under the crane.

2000	The first vehicles of a complete fleet of AGVs are supplied to a container terminal in Hamburg, Germany. Gottwald supplies both the hardware and the control/ navigation software as a complete package for the first time. Mannesmann acquired by Vodafone and industrial activities spun off to Siemens, which involves Gottwald's becoming part of the Siemens Group.

2002	Gottwald and six other companies are sold off by Siemens to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), an American private equity company, and these companies become part of Demag Holding. At the same time, Gottwald is renamed “Gottwald Port Technology”.

2003	WSG Wide Span Gantries are included in the product range – used for intermodal and trimodal handling between water, rail and road.

2004	The HPK Harbour Pontoon Crane, which is based on the Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane technology, is developed; designed, among other things, for mid-stream ship-to-ship handling.

2005	Kick-off of a large-scale pilot project for ASC Automated Stacking Cranes for automated container stacking and housekeeping.

2006	100 Years of Gottwald: Generation 5 Harbour Cranes and the first AGV with a diesel-electric drive are launched. Gottwald Port Technology GmbH is integrated into Demag Cranes AG.

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