Capital Equipment News October 2021

Designed for fast handling of containers and semi-trailers, the LRS 545 Liebherr reachstacker is distinguished by its wedge shape, combined with driving comfort and powerful performance.

Growing machine population Jankelow says the growing machine population at one of Africa’s biggest ports is exciting for Liebherr-Africa. The Port of Walvis Bay is Namibia’s largest commercial port, receiving approximately 3 000 vessel calls and handling about 5-million tonnes of cargo per year. Its world-class infrastructure and equipment ensure reliable and safe cargo handling. The Port of Walvis Bay handles container imports, exports and transshipments, as well as bulk and break-bulk of various commodities. The LRS 545 Liebherr reachstacker will be deployed in a top-lift container application. Key to success on this tender, explains Jankelow, was the close relationship Liebherr-Africa has forged with the ports authority over the past 15 years. Liebherr maritime cranes operating at Walvis Bay are supported by the company’s resident engineer, who is available to the client round the clock. “Our resident engineer is readily available 24/7 to assist the customer. This level of support has resulted in high machine availability. That was one of our key competitive edges when tendering for this particular contract. Over many years of working closely with the client, we have demonstrated our world-class product support capabilities,” he says. Jankelow says every product is only as good as its support received from the OEM. Downtime for port machinery, he says, or any other piece of equipment for that matter, is virtually out of question. “Time is money,” he says. “Having 24/7 support and high machine availability has created greater customer confidence and trust.” The LRS 545 from Liebherr gives terminals a new impulse. Designed for fast handling of containers and semi-trailers, the agile reachstacker is distinguished by its wedge shape, combined with driving comfort and powerful performance. The optional Pactronic hybrid drive ensures that energy is recuperated, fuel is saved and emissions are reduced. The tried- and-tested hydrostatic drive enables continuous acceleration for enhanced driving comfort. It also ensures energy recovery for increased efficiency. The control system of the reachstacker, which was developed by Liebherr, focuses on precision, safety and productivity. These are some of the key features and benefits that influenced the client’s buying decision. b

to high customer satisfaction. Liebherr- Africa has continued to provide round-the- clock service to GPHA, even during times of crisis, to ensure that the port authority’s ports are able to continue their operations. Despite the lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Liebherr-Africa’s technical support team has remained functional to support the customer. “As part of the deal, we also hosted 26 GPHA operators and technicians at our state-of-the-art Maritime Training Centre in Durban, where they received advanced operator and technical training courses over a six-week period,” says Jankelow. More reach into Namibia The sale of two LRS 545 Liebherr reachstackers to Namibia expands the complement of Liebherr maritime machines operating at Namport. As

part of its fleet expansion programme, Namport went into the market for two reachstackers last year. The tender was however cancelled twice, explains Jankelow, largely due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “After the third round of tendering, we were successfully awarded the contract to supply two LRS 545 Liebherr reachstackers in September this year,” he says. “The two machines bring to 12 the number of Liebherr maritime machines in Namport’s fleet. Namport already runs seven LHM cranes and three LRS 645 Liebherr reachstackers.” The two machines are due for delivery in the next two months, followed by a handover period of two to three weeks, where a Liebherr trainer will conduct familiarisation training with Namport operators and technicians.

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS OCTOBER 2021