Konecranes manages the container hotel safely and effectively

Case For Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP), empty containers are a natural part of the port operator's many business areas. N.C. Nielsen has supplied two brand-new Konecranes empty container handlers to service the many customers who wish to store containers in the enormous cargo areas in Nordhavn in Copenhagen.

The two Konecranes can deliver raw strength, speed and efficiency to the task of moving empty containers. They can lift loads up to eight containers high with their wide heavy-handling masts and robust tilt cylinders, which ensure a secure hold on the containers. They arrive at a fast pace, are lifted by the trailer in a snap, raised up over the operator's viewing height and driven with great precision to the specified location.

"We have established a kind of container hotel, where we service our customers through the handling, storage and repair of all types of containers. Central to this are the two Konecranes, which pick up and bring containers in the space of a few minutes. This makes for a fantastically efficient flow at the port, where the lorry drivers don't have to wait too long," says Bent Ejby Jensen, coordinator at CMP.

As port operator, CMP plays an important role in the delivery of goods in the Øresund region. The company is responsible for operations at Nordhavn, where goods are imported and harbour buses need to be inspected, and when the many cruise ships need servicing or oil products need to be transported to Copenhagen Airport. The empty containers are part of the complete service offer – and they require gigantic specialist machinery.

"We have a pretty big machine fleet and have handed the mechanic jobs over to N.C. Nielsen. They have on-site service technicians and can call for additional assistance at extremely short notice. Conditions are tough in the container yard and all the machines need to be in operation in all kinds of weather," explains Bent Ejby Jensen from CMP.

High-tech ports

The two Konecranes empty container handlers operate in a private driving area, where the handling of containers is highly systemised. Every single unit is carefully scanned upon arrival and exit through the automatic gate, where the registered information can be seen immediately on the driver's screen so there is complete control of location, condition and any damage incurred.

From the high-placed cab at the back of the machine, the operator has a complete view of the container and the precise driving area. The view is optimised with visual contact of the whole machine, container corners, twist-locks and the spreader itself, which grabs hold of the container from the side. The view from the cab is crucial for transportation tasks, where container handling must always be delivered with millimetre precision.

"We are very comfortable with our two Konecranes, which in my opinion are the best on the market. Our machine operators are really happy to drive in them, as comfort, safety and handling capability are superb. Konecranes are the fastest machines in the port, and they make it possible to handle containers at a rate not seen before," concludes Bent Ejby Jensen.

High-tech ports

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