KCI Konecranes to Release New Container Handling Crane (ship-to-shore) Design

Konecranes VLC has systematically renewed its product range and now a new improved version of the ship-to-shore (STS) crane is released. KCI Koneports won a modernisation order for two STS container cranes with the new design for customer whose name is to be withheld by customer's request. The project value is approx. EURO 7 million. Delivery is due in July 2002.

"This order together with other large orders lately mark a clear upturn in order intake compared to second quarter. Actually total order book for Special Cranes now stands higher than at the end of June and last year, despite of record high shipments. This further strengthens our positive business outlook for year 2002 and beyond", says Mikko Uhari, Managing Director, Konecranes VLC Corporation.

The modernisation scope includes installation of KCI Konecranes’ all new STS trolleys, increasing the lifting height by 20 feet (using German subsidiary Noell Konecranes lifting tower technology) and increasing the boom length by 20 feet.

Some special features of the project: The handling equipment comes complete with Konecranes own AC drives, Active Anti Sway Control and Horizontal Fine Positioning Systems. Together these features will have a productivity boosting effect for the customer. The new design improves the crane operator’s control over the positioning of the spreader and container on the chassis, in the cell or on the deck compared to existing cranes. Dwell times will also decrease substantially.

Konecranes VLC is part of the KCI Konecranes Group’s Special Cranes Business Area and specialises in port, terminal and shipyard cranes.

KCI Konecranes, headquartered in Hyvinkää, Finland 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 4400 employees in 34 countries all over the world.

This press release together with a downloadable high-resolution picture of a Ship-to-Shore crane is available at our website:/www.kcigroup.com at "Latest News"

For further information, please contact:

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

Konecranes VLC Corporation
Mikko Uhari, Managing Director, Konecranes VLC Corp.,
tel. +358-20 427 2500

Downloadable high-resolution image:

img040900.exe TIF for PC, self-extr. exe (2.3 MB)
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img060901.sit TIF for Macintosh, Stuffit (1.4 MB)