A Model 4 (G HMK 4406) Mobile Harbour Crane from Gemeentelijk Havenbedrijf hired to Riga Natie in the Port of Antwerp for handling steel.

Gottwald’s Generation 5 Harbour Crane Model 4 on Successful Course – Follow-Up and New Orders

Düsseldorf, 29 April 2008 – Gottwald Port Technology GmbH (Gottwald) has received another two orders for its new Generation 5 Harbour Crane Model 4, launched as an entry level model for the 100-tonne crane class at the end of 2007 to extend the Generation 5 range of Models 6, 7 and 8. Gemeentelijk Havenbedrijf in Antwerp, Belgium, placed a follow-up order for an additional G HMK 4406 crane. Another G HMK 4406 crane was sold to Velaverkstaedi Hjalta Einarssonar ehf (VHE) in Iceland.

Giuseppe Di Lisa, Gottwald’s Sales Director, reports positively about the first months after the market launch of the Model 4: “Although they were not introduced to the market until the end of last year, we have already had orders for six Model 4 cranes, all G HMK 4406.” Including the two new orders, Gottwald has sold two cranes each to Belgium and India as well as one crane each to Spain and Iceland. “There is no doubt that we have met all our customers' demands with our Model 4, which is designed in a compact and functional form and offers many benefits,” says Di Lisa. “As versatile as possible, no larger than necessary.”

Second Model 4 Mobile Harbour Crane for Antwerp

Following the excellent results achieved with its first Model 4 crane, a 100-tonne
G HMK 4406 that went into service in the Port of Antwerp in mid-September 2007 for handling containers and general cargo, Gemeentelijk Havenbedrijf has ordered an additional G HMK 4406 which was successfully handed over to the customer in
mid-April 2008.

“Within a short period of time, our first G HMK 4406 crane proved to be very beneficial in terms of productivity, reliability, cost efficiency and ecologically-compatible operation,“ says Eric Schoonbaert, Cranes Operations Manager of Gemeentelijk Havenbedrijf, Quayside Cranes Section. “ Following our positive experience with this crane, it was easy to make the decision to invest in an additional Model 4 crane.

First G HMK 4406 for Iceland

Model 4 also attracted Velaverkstaedi Hjalta Einarssonar ehf (VHE) in Iceland, which ordered a G HMK 4406 Mobile Harbour Crane after signing a long-term contract with the leading aluminium producer Alcan for handling aluminium products at their Straumsvik facility in Hafnarfjordur, south of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. Unnar Hjaltason, VHE’s Managing Director, is very pleased with the decision to purchase a Gottwald crane: “The new crane will be succeeding an HMK 260 E Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane that has operated reliability for some 12 years. The good experience gained with this crane, on the one hand, and the excellent reputation Gottwald Generation 5 cranes enjoy, on the other, made it easy to opt for a Gottwald Model 4 crane,” he says. “The G HMK 4406 has been in operation since January 2008 and will help Alcan to export their products to the world market."

Further information available from:

Gottwald Port Technology GmbH
Postfach 18 03 43
40570 Düsseldorf, Germany
Peter Klein
Tel.: +49 (0)211 7102-3355
Fax: +49 (0)211 7102-3660
Mobile: +49 (0)173 722 10 74
peter.klein@gottwald.com