The Port of Åhus in Skåne has invested in a purpose-built electrically powered SENNEBOGEN 875 E material handler, tipping the scales at 165 tons.
The 875 E boasts a 531 HP engine and was built to work on a customized rail gantry system that spans the 32 ft wide railway tracks.
Its predecessor, an old crane that dates back to 1977, could not keep up with the demands of a busy port. At 550 tons per hour, the 875 E has increased productivity by more than 55%.
Standing majestically alongside the sea, the 875 E is more than just a marvel to look at.
In addition to being incredibly powerful, investing in an electrically powered SENNEBOGEN material handler was an important decision for the Port in Åhus for both the potential savings and environmental concerns.
Sweden places great importance to the protection of the environment, not only in terms of emissions, but also in terms of the noise.
The combination of an electric drive and SENNEBOGEN’s state-of-the-art energy recapture system made the decision an easy one.
Now, the Port is saving a ton of energy, while increasing handling capacity.
Since November 2020, the giant material handler has been unloading 550 tons of gypsum per hour, which is about 200 tons more than the previous machine.
The Port of Åhus handles a total of 600,000 tons of dry bulk cargo annually, with more than 70% of it being gypsum or chalk.
Performance
Teamwork played an important role in the planning of the 875 E. Operators were asked to weigh in when the specifications were being developed.
Comfort, safety and functionality were important to the operators when considering the design of the material handler.
Ulrik Johnsson, an operator with 30 years of experience, had this to say after three-months with the new machine, “The speed of the 875 E is remarkable. It used to take one and a half working days to unload a 4,000-tonne bulk carrier, but today you can easily do it in one day. And the comfort in the cab is great. I hardly feel any vibrations and the noise levels have been significantly reduced.”
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Purpose-built
Another key feature of the 875 E is the SENNEBOGEN Mastercab. The galvanized surface makes it less prone to corrosion caused by saltwater, which is always a concern at the port. Furthermore, the boom and stick, almost 80 ft long is protected from environmental influences with the help of a thick paint coating.
Other factors that lead to increased efficiencies and reduced costs include using lightweight, high-strength steel.
Combining a relatively short, 44 ft boom with a 40 ft stick in the “Port” version resulted in more load capacity at the stick’s end.
Accordingly, the port operators can now effortlessly lift gypsum loads weighing around 8 tonnes with the 6-cubic meter grab in even faster cycles.
All SENNEBOGEN rail gantries are customized and adapted to the existing rail dimensions in the port.
In the case of Åhus, the machine spans a 32-foot-wide rail gantry and moves quickly along the 820-foot-long dock. The power supply is also tailored to this application.
In this case, SENNEBOGEN used a spiral winding, motorized cable reel with a center feed.
Along the dock, there is a system designed to protect the cable. The flaps open and close automatically as the cable is extended and retracted. This flap mechanism is controlled in its movement by the gantry itself using levers based on the zipper principle along the entire quay length.
Thanks to the 531 hp electric motor and a matching cold temperature package, it quickly heats the hydraulic tank and hybrid system to operating temperature. This makes the 875 E always ready for action—even in adverse and challenging weather conditions, a regular occurrence in a place like Sweden.
