KCI Konecranes Sees Rapid Increase in Port Services

KCI Konecranes’ harbour crane maintenance operations, KCI KONEPORTS, sees strong growth in its activities.

KCI Koneports with annual sales of approx. EUR 60 million was organised from the beginning of the year.

Timing of the new venture was very successful. The market for crane inspections, upgrades, major repairs and modernisations is growing rapidly.

KCI Koneports’ two new operating companies, Noell Konecranes in Germany and Caillard Konecranes in France have now, with the support of the worldwide Konecranes network and KCI Konecranes technical support, secured many important new orders during their first months as KCI Konecranes subsidiaries.

In Indonesia, Jakarta International Container Terminal ordered from Noell Konecranes the inspection of their equipment. The scope of work includes the inspection on 9 ship-to-shore cranes (of Sumitomo, Noell, Gunanusa-Paceco, Mitsui makes), 29 rubber tyred gantry cranes (of Hitachi, Mitsui, Hyundai, Bukaka makes) and 47 spreaders.

In Taiwan, Noell Konecranes has been awarded a major contract for the repair and re-erection of two stacker reclaimers.

In USA, Jacksonville Port Authority has ordered the refurbishment of two Paceco ship-to-shore cranes including the replacement of the trolley brakes for three ship-to-shore Paceco cranes.

In France, Le Havre Port Authority ordered from Caillard Konecranes the repair of the leg of a gantry grab crane and the installation of additional safety brakes for three slewing hook cranes.

"The total value of these new orders is approx. EUR 10 million", says Mikko Uhari, President Konecranes VLC, the harbour and shipyard crane operating unit of the KCI Konecranes Group. "As we are enjoying an upswing in orders for our top-of-the-line range of new cranes, it is very important to complete our offer with a comprehensive range of partial renovations and maintenance services", says Uhari.

KCI Koneports is organised as part of Konecranes VLC, the Group’s Harbour and Shipyard Crane organisation. In Group reports the business activity of KCI Koneports is reported under Maintenance Services.

KCI Konecranes is a world leading Engineering Group specialising in advanced overhead lifting solutions and maintenance services. Group activity is organised along three business areas: Maintenance Services( 44% of Group sales) Standard Lifting Equipment (32%) and Special Cranes (24%). KCI Konecranes is competing in all parts of the industrial and harbour crane market. In 2000, Group sales totalled EUR 703 million with well over 4000 employees in 34 countries all over the world.

For further information, please contact:

Teuvo Rintamäki, Chief Financial Officer
KCI Konecranes International Plc
Tel. +358-20 427 2040