ABB and ZPMC modernise Tianjin

In a release, ABB said that the Chinese facility’s yard fleet of 31 manually-operated rail-mounted stacking cranes (RMGs) is currently being equipped with ABB’s automation and remote supervision solution, as well as being refurbished with the company’s electrical systems delivered in pre-assembled, containerised Electrical Houses.

According to the multinational corporation, the venture is progressing at a record pace, with the first crane batch rebuilt, automated and commissioned for production within only a few months after inking of the contract.

FICT general manager Song Tianwei said that analysis of the terminal’s operation revealed that yard automation was “crucial” for the terminal’s overall productivity.

FICT was initially designed for a throughput of 1.5m teu a year, but “in the ‘mega-age’ characterised by bigger ships and increasing container volumes”, that capacity is no longer enough, with an extensive yard-modernisation launched to boost terminal capacity and productivity.

Mr Song said that FICT can already see that the cranes featuring ABB’s automation system deliver a “very stable performance” of 30 moves an hour which means that the terminal will see a capacity rise of over 10% upon completion of the modernisation venture.

“We will offer a better and safer working environment for our crane operators, who are very happy about the move to control room environment,” he also said.

FICT is staying operational across its modernisation.

ABB Ports senior vice president Uno Bryfors said that terminals across the world are currently re-equipping their yards for more efficient operations, which are required to serve the megaships of today.

“We believe that automatic stacking cranes, and especially cantilever-type cranes, will be the preferred type of equipment for yards in many terminals around the world, including in China,” he noted.