Kuenz and ABB largest Yard Crane order Europe

APM Terminals, a subsidiary of A.P. Möller Maersk, and the two parties signed a major order consisting of 62 Automated Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (ARMGs) and one Rail Mounted Gantry Crane (RGC) for the expansion project at the APM Terminals Maasvlakte II (APMT MVII) terminal in Rotterdam.

The Kuenz and ABB success story at APMT MVII terminal began in 2012 with the construction of the current facility of the project, which included 54 ARMGs for the yard and two RGCs for the fully integrated intermodal yard. 

APMT MVII selected Kuenz and ABB due to the convincing overall concept of the cranes and the lowest operating costs. 

In addition to the long service life of key components such as ropes and wheels, the automation and control solutions also boast the lowest maintenance hours per ARMG in the container industry.

"The Kuenz ARMG Concept 2.0, introduced in the current facility of APMT MVII, was characterized by innovative new features, especially in the hoist unit. This groundbreaking development not only increased the performance of the cranes, but also significantly reduced operating costs. The positive effects of this pioneering innovation have been fully realized," said David Moosbrugger, MD, Kuenz.

In addition to the fully automated handling of containers in the stack and in the AGV transfer zone, the automation concept in the first phase also includes the fully automated loading and unloading of trucks. 

Using ABB's advanced technology, a range of different international chassis are identified and then precisely loaded with containers. 

“In collaboration with Kuenz and APMT MVII we have been able to deliver the highest level of automation resulting in a terminal with high productivity and low maintenance needs. We are excited to take this proven concept to the next level, delivering the efficiency gains that are only available to the leaders of terminal automation,” added Clara Holmgren, business line manager Ports, ABB Marine & Ports.

Lifting speeds of up to 84 meters/minute and crane travel speeds of up to 270 meters/minute, combined with the latest automation and sensor developments from ABB, guarantee maximum handling performance. 

The RGC crane, which is mechanically a copy of the existing cranes, will also be highly automated including remote operation.

Hans Jongejan, project director MVII-Expansion said: "This is an important step in the expansion for APMT MVII. Kuenz and ABB once again proved to be the best solutions for the handling of our containers. The combination between the reliable automatic handling provided by ABB and Kuenz's aerodynamic cranes makes this a sustainable choice. This allows us to not only become the most modern gateway to Europe but also the most efficient and sustainable. We look forward to a successful cooperation."

Kuenz is characterized by the traditional advantages of the aerodynamic single girder crane - not only by the lowest power consumption, but also by being the lightest crane that still offers full performance at operating wind speeds of up to 90 km/h. 

The first cranes are scheduled for delivery in 2025. By mid-2027, a total of 116 stacking cranes and three rail cranes will be in operation at APMT MVII, making one of Europe's largest container terminals even more efficient.