PD Ports raise safety with Konecranes Truck Lift Prevention retrofits on their RTGs at Teesside, UK

Teesport is the sixth largest port in the UK, so PD Ports always has a high volume of goods passing through their terminal, and they rely on a small fleet of efficient cranes. These cranes include four Konecranes RTGs to help move containers between storage and road transport. Whenever an RTG lifts a container from a truck, there is a risk that the twistlocks attaching the container to the truck have not fully disengaged, so the truck is lifted as well. This is extremely dangerous for nearby personnel, cargo and equipment. The Truck Lift Prevention retrofit monitors the vehicle and automatically prevents a truck lift from happening.

Part of the Konecranes Any Brand series, the retrofit is fully compatible with both Konecranes and non-Konecranes RTGs. This new version of the retrofit uses a 3D multilayer sensor to scan both the container and the trailer and monitor the gap between them. The system is able to detect various trailer lift situations, regardless of how many corner locks have been left attached.

Safety always comes first, every time

The goal with every retrofit is to make the handling, functionality and reliability of existing cranes equivalent to the latest generation of Konecranes equipment. A retrofit can add features to improve operational efficiency and safety. The lift prevention retrofit is a simple, cost-effective way to boost safety on any RTG.

“Our equipment is top-of-the-line and our people are really good at what they do, but mistakes can still happen,” says Gavin Robinson, Crane Manager, PD Ports. “You have to maximize safety at all times, so additional safety features are always welcome. As the OEM, Konecranes was able to offer us a ready-made solution that was quick to install and easy to integrate into the crane systems. Its effectiveness was clear from the start.”

The Konecranes Truck Lift Prevention retrofit mounts a laser sensor under the sill beam at about 1.5 meters from the ground. The system activates automatically and monitors the gap between the container and trailer for the first two meters of hoisting. It will stop the hoist if no gap is detected, since this means the trailer is being lifted from all four corners. It will also halt the lift if a gap Is detected but the trailer is being lifted from one or more corners. The retrofit includes Konecranes proprietary software that runs the system, collects data, and alerts the crane operator to any truck lift so it can be lowered safely.

Long-term commitment

“At Konecranes, we’re always developing and improving our safety solutions, This new version of the Truck Lift Prevention retrofit adds more layers to the laser sensors for a better scan of the lift,” says Marc Wilson, Frontline Manager, Konecranes Port Services UK. “By investing in this retrofit, PD Ports shows a long-term commitment to the well-being of their people and the future of their operations. We’ve worked with them for many years and are proud to bring them the latest in safety technology.”