The Port of Garston in Liverpool, UK, is set to become home to the world’s largest hydraulic crane when the machine completes its journey from Finland later this month.
A Mantsinen 200M – the largest machine of its type and the first to come to the UK – is being supplied to ABP by Cooper Specialised Handling, which will also oversee its installation on the north bank of the River Mersey.
As shipping companies increase the size of their vessels to drive down costs, the speed at which ports can load and unload ships is vital to improving their turnaround times and overall efficiency. Thanks to the versatility of the Mantsinen 200M, which can discharge vessels of more than 7,000dwt with ease, ABP can now handle any load from any vessel that can pass through the lock at the Port of Garston.
The UK’s leading port operator is also set to enhance operating efficiencies at its Liverpool facility, as the new machine combines the capacity of a traditional mobile harbour crane with the speed of a hydraulic crane to deliver fast, accurate cargo handling at a rate of up to 1,000 tonnes per hour. As well as benefitting from faster, accurate cargo handling, the Port of Garston will be able to adapt to shipments and other cargo types as its business grows.
Crucially, the Mantsinen 200M is the only material handler of hydraulic design that satisfies the Port of Garston’s requirement to handle a 25 tonne load plus attachment weight from the far side of the widest vessel.
“David Cooper, Chief Executive of Cooper Specialised Handling, said: “We’re really excited that the world’s largest hydraulic crane will be helping ABP to take productivity to the next level at the Port of Garston.
“What is really impressive about the Mantsinen 200M is its ability to cycle much faster than a mobile harbour crane while handling the same weight, and to switch from handling steel coils to dry bulks in a matter of minutes. Thanks to its speed and precision, the Mantsinen 200M is set to play a major role in the port’s future expansion.”
Covering an area of 65 acres, the port currently handles around 500,000 tonnes of cargo a year, and with easy links to the M56, M62, and M6 motorways, it is a natural gateway to the industrial heartlands of the North West of England.
Carl Bevan, ABP’s Divisional Port Manager at Garston, said: “Our decision to invest in the latest crane technology is part of our growth and sustainability strategy for the Port of Garston and will make sure the facility is fit for the future.
“Cooper Specialised Handling came up with a cost-effective, customised solution that satisfies our diverse cargo handling requirements and will support our plans to grow the business by enabling us to operate more effectively and compete across all sectors.”
The contract for the new Mantsinen 200M at the Port of Garston is one of five separate deals, with an overall value of £6million, which the heavy lifting division of Cooper Handling has concluded with ABP. Cranes have already been delivered to Teignmouth and Swansea, while machines are also destined for the ports of Ipswich and King’s Lynn as part of ABP’s £1billion investment programme to support its customers with innovative logistics solutions.
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Editor’s Notes
Operating in all sectors of heavy lifting across the UK and Ireland, Cooper Specialised Handling is the exclusive UK distributor for SveTruck, RAM Spreaders, Telestack bulk material handling conveying systems and Sany mobile handling equipment, sole UK importer and exclusive distributor for Mantsinen cranes, Movella Translifters, TEC Containers and a long-term specialist in Konecranes lift trucks. The company, which celebrated 20 years in business in 2018, also has a dedicated after-sales division, Cooper Handling Solutions, which specialises in engineering support.
Independently owned, Cooper offers total solutions in both solids and bulk handling. Its customised solutions comprise high quality, high value products and reliable service for businesses operating in the most challenging heavy handling environments, including ports, freight handling, inter-modal terminals, manufacturing and other heavy lifting industries.