Major automation equipment deal

Konecranes has signed a contract with Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) for 30 Konecranes Gottwald Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) which will be delivered in Q4 2021 and commissioned by Q2 2022. Konecranes has heavily invested in automation solutions for ports, offering a range of different equipment for ports and terminal operators with different automation objectives.

Ari Rämö, Americas sales manager of Konecranes Port Solutions, said: “This order from LBCT is a strong vote of confidence in our Automated Guided Vehicle technology and its long-term viability in terms of constantly improving eco-efficiency and productivity.”

LBCT currently operates a fleet of 72 lead-acid, battery-driven Konecranes Gottwald Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). The 30 new AGVs will greatly expand LBCT’s current, complete system which includes a Battery Exchange System (BES), transponder navigation and a fence control safety system. It was delivered turn-key, completely integrated in advance.

Anthony Otto, president of LBCT LLC, stated: “LBCT is very pleased with the performance of our first fleet of AGVs. We will now be increasing this fleet as part of the completion of the final phase of the new terminal’s construction currently underway and scheduled to be finished in Q1 of 2022.”

In a separate order, Konecranes will provide pre-engineering for a second BES that will be installed for redundancy reasons as part of the final phase of the terminal’s construction. It will have an improved design resulting from operational knowledge drawn from the initial BES.

Last year, Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OOIL) sold LBCT to Macquarie Group subsidiary Olivia Holdings for US$1.78bn.