The interceptor removes plastic debris.
The interceptor removes plastic debris.
Article

Konecranes helps to tackle the global plastic waste problem together with The Ocean Cleanup

Plastic waste in the oceans is a major global sustainability challenge. According to WWF, current estimation is that the amount of plastic waste that enters the oceans counts for 4.8 to 12.7 million tons per year. This equals a truck load per minute. The Ocean Cleanup is aiming to clean the oceans from plastic, and Konecranes is helping them in their mission.

Konecranes is partnering with The Ocean Cleanup by manufacturing, installing, and maintaining Interceptors developed to remove plastic debris within the heaviest polluting rivers of the world. They are solar-powered, automated devices that anchor in the mouth of a river where they catch and extract floating plastic. The Interceptor can extract up to 50.000 kilograms of plastic waste per day before it enters the ocean.

When the partnership between Konecranes and The Ocean Cleanup was published in December 2020, the first new generation Interceptors 005 and 006 were being manufactured simultaneously at Konecranes' MHE-Demag facility in Klang, Malaysia. 

What has happened since then? And what will happen next?

The product design and manufacturing process works

“The first 3rd generation Interceptor, “005”, designed, manufactured and assembled by us was put into the water of Klang River, Malaysia, in October 2021. The key design feature is scalability, to enable series production for producing many Interceptors in years to come. The Interceptors are also designed for easy transportation in a container,” says Boon Kiat Tan, from MHE-Demag, which is part of Konecranes corporation. Boon Kiat has been acting as the Product Owner for the project. 

The project proved that Konecranes, a company traditionally known for its cranes, can deliver something that the company has never done before: a vessel that floats on water. Many challenges were faced along the way, but the team managed to solve those successfully. During the last quarter of 2021, the project moved from the proof-of-concept phase to the implementation and acceleration phase, as both the product as well as the manufacturing process had been proven to work. 
Along the way, the engineering team found new, more efficient solutions for the Interceptor. For example, the conveyor belt was widened so that the capacity to collect debris and deliver waste to the shuttle’s dumpsters increased. 

“This showcases our capability to deal with new, very extraordinary projects and engineering challenges, even during a global pandemic when the whole team had to work online. Our open-minded team, organization, engineering capabilities, infrastructure and tools enabled this innovative project. We built a boat that cleans up rivers and helps in The Ocean Cleanup’s mission to rid the oceans of plastic. The rivers are the main pathway through which plastic enters the oceans and Interceptors are there to close the tap,” adds Boon Kiat.
Interceptors 005 and 006 were manufactured simultaneously at the MHE-Demag facility, Malaysia
Interceptors 005 and 006 were manufactured simultaneously at the MHE-Demag facility, Malaysia. Image by Boon Kiat Tan.

 

Focus on getting more Interceptors “live” and continuing the product development

As the cooperation continues, the focus is on getting new Interceptor units live. Given the scale and urgency of the issue, The Ocean Cleanup needs partners to reach the goal of removing plastic in the 1000 most polluted rivers.

“We help to facilitate the process with The Ocean Cleanup: Signing contracts with sponsors and finding vessel owners and operators, negotiating with countries and government bodies, and other practicalities that need to be in place before an Interceptor is ready for cleaning the river,” says Boon Kiat.

Konecranes is also providing extended service for the Interceptors like monitoring and remote service. The company also develops equipment and new onshore technologies for emptying the bins, or, in rivers where Interceptors are not suitable, removing the debris from other kinds of collectors, like trash booms. 
The interceptor removes plastic debris.
The interceptor removes plastic debris.

Partnership syncs well with Konecranes' sustainability agenda

Konecranes is proud to partner with The Ocean Cleanup, helping to tackle the plastic pollution problem in the world’s oceans. Our global engineering, manufacturing and service capabilities will support the non-profit organization in its mission is to cleanup 90% of floating ocean plastic pollution. The partnership is one example of Konecranes’ ongoing work in helping our customers to become more sustainable, supporting them with eco-efficient and low-carbon products and solutions, world-class engineering, and service.

 

Image: The 3rd generation Interceptor 005 was the first one designed, manufactured and installed by Konecranes’ MHE-Demag. Picture taken on October 29, 2021 by Boon Kiat Tan, when it was installed and moored in the river Klang, Malaysia.

Learn more about sustainability at Konecranes
The Ocean Cleanup Interceptor 005
The Ocean Cleanup Interceptor 005
Background

About the partnership with The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit developing advanced technologies to rid the oceans of plastic, and Konecranes announced on Dec 10th, 2020 a partnership to design, manufacture, and service The Ocean Cleanup's Interceptor™, which is designed to extract plastic from rivers before it enters the ocean. This was an important step as the non-profit organization prepared to tackle the world's 1000 most polluting rivers. 

Konecranes was selected as the partner because of its expertise and worldwide footprint. Konecranes will handle Interceptor manufacturing, installation, and maintenance; local partners will oversee operations, and The Ocean Cleanup will continue to act as the technology and best practices provider as well as lead business development for upcoming Interceptor projects.

Image: The Ocean Cleanup

Read the press release from December 10, 2020