The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology

Euroports expands Rostock bulk capacity with all-electric Liebherr crane

(Posted on 25/11/21)

Liebherr is to supply Euroports Germany with an all-electric portal crane next year. All crane movements of the pioneering machine will be carried out by means of emission-free electric motors. With this sustainable investment, Euroports is increasing the handling capacity of its bulk terminal at Rostock's overseas port.

Euroports Germany is the largest port handling company in the Rostock overseas port and in the whole of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The company constantly responds to changing market conditions to enable its customers to handle goods efficiently. In recent years, Euroports Germany has already invested in two Liebherr cranes for its general cargo terminal in Rostock's overseas port. The two LHM 550 mobile harbour cranes are the backbone of the handling of wind turbines and allow for increased container handling resulting from the New Silk Road. The equally increased volume of bulk goods prompted Euroports to put an LHM 280 into operation at short notice. In order to further increase the handling capacity and to create the necessary replacement for two harbour cranes, a further machine will soon strengthen the Euroports crane fleet. In the summer of 2022, Liebherr will deliver an all-electric LPS 420 E to its neighbour in Rostock's overseas port.

"We want to further strengthen the handling performance at our bulk terminal. In the coming year, we are not only investing in a new crane to be even more efficient, but we also want to make our contribution to sustainability," says Karsten Lentz Managing Director of the Euroports Germany Group. "We have opted for a fully electric crane, the LPS 420 E. In future, the crane will be used to handle all types of goods at this terminal. In addition to building materials, this also includes ores, lime, gypsum, wood chips and many more," adds Lentz.

The all-electric gantry crane is designed for ports and terminals with electric infrastructure. All crane movements such as luffing, lifting, slewing and travelling movements are carried out by means of emission-free electric motors and are therefore not hydraulic. With an outreach of up to 48 metres, ships up to Post-Panamax class can be served. The LPS 420 E has a maximum lifting capacity of up to 124 tonnes and impresses with several decisive technical advantages. The main components of the electric drive are liquid-cooled and the heat is dissipated via heat exchangers mounted outside the crane. Externally mounted cooling units have the advantage, especially in bulk handling that no air is brought into the interior of the crane. This keeps dust contamination to a minimum. Thanks to the Liebherr active front-end frequency converter, deviations in the power supplycan be easily compensated for safe and stable operation. The machine is equipped with high-performance power accumulators to reduce the peak load in the crane's main power supply and to use regenerative energy within the system. In addition, the synchronous electric motors have a low moment of inertia and provide fast response for precise driving characteristics.

The electrification of drives is reaching a new level, and this is also the case in the maritime industry. A clear shift in focus in favour of electrified cranes is evident. In addition to increased demand for hybrid drive concepts consisting of a diesel engine and an electric motor, fully electric solutions are also increasingly coming into focus. Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH has already sold numerous LPS 420 E all-electric portal cranes to its international customers. The unit for Euroports Germany is now the first in the European market.