Euroports Germany adds all-electric Liebherr portal crane

A clear shift in focus in favor of electrified cranes has become evident in the maritime industry. In addition to increased demand for hybrid drive concepts that use a diesel engine and an electric motor, according to Liebherr, fully electric solutions are increasingly coming into focus. Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH, a leading European manufacturer of maritime handling solutions, has already sold numerous LPS 420 E all-electric portal cranes to its international customers.

Euroports Germany will soon take delivery of a Liebherr LPS 420 E all-electric portal crane. Photo: Liebherr

One of the most recent customers is Euroports, one of the largest port infrastructure companies in Europe. The company handles more than 60 million tonnes of bulk goods, general cargo, containers and liquid goods each year. Its German port-handling operation is the biggest in the Rostock overseas port and in the whole of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region.

In recent years, Euroports Germany invested in two Liebherr LHM 550 mobile harbor cranes for its general cargo terminal in the Rostock port. The cranes are used to handle wind turbines and allow for increased container handling resulting from the New Silk Road. This increased volume of bulk goods also prompted Euroports to put an LHM 280 into operation at short notice.

To further add to its handling capacity as well as replace two existing harbor cranes at its bulk terminal, Euroports Germany will soon take delivery of an LPS 420 E.

“In 2022, we are not only investing in a new crane to be even more efficient, but we also want to make our contribution to sustainability,” says Karsten Lentz, managing director, Euroports Germany Group. “We have opted for a fully electric crane, the LPS 420 E. In future, the crane will be used to handle all types of goods at this terminal. In addition to building materials, this also includes ores, lime, gypsum, wood chips and many more.”

The all-electric gantry crane has a maximum lifting capacity of up to 124 tonnes (136 USt) and an outreach of up to 48 meters (157 ft.). Photo: Liebherr

The all-electric gantry crane is designed for ports and terminals with electric infrastructure. It has a maximum lifting capacity of up to 124 tonnes (136 USt) and an outreach of up to 48 meters (157 ft.), enabling ships up to Post-Panamax class to be served. All crane movements such as luffing, lifting, slewing and travelling movements are carried out by electric motors.

The main components of the electric drive are liquid-cooled with the heat dissipated via heat exchangers mounted outside the crane. According to Liebherr, this is especially beneficial in bulk handling where no air is brought into the interior of the crane. It also keeps dust contamination to a minimum.

The active front-end frequency converter compensates for deviations in the power supply for safe and stable operation. High-performance power accumulators reduce the peak load in the crane’s main power supply and use regenerative energy within the system. In addition, the synchronous electric motors have a low moment of inertia and provide fast response for precise driving characteristics.

The all-electric crane is expected to be delivered in summer of 2022.