Large crane order doubles capacity at APMT

APM Terminals Maasvlakte II has placed its largest ever crane order in Europe, significantly increasing capacity at the Rotterdam terminal.

The signing ceremony for APMT's largest crane order in Europe

The 62 electric automated rail mounted gantry cranes are being supplied by Austrian firm, Kuenz and will feature handling systems from ABB.

With the signing of these mega-orders, APMT says it has achieved a significant milestone in its expansion plans, enabling the terminal to double capacity by 2027. The first ARMGs are expected in April 2025.

“This is an important step in the expansion for APMT MVII,” said Hans Jongejan, project director MVII-Expansion.

“The combination between the reliable automatic handling provided by Kuenz and ABB’s aerodynamic cranes makes this a sustainable choice. This allows us to not only become the most modern gateway to Europe but also the most efficient and sustainable.”

The Kuenz ARMG Concept 2.0 is characterised by innovative new features, especially in the hoist unit, says Kuenz’s managing director, David Moorbrugger. “This groundbreaking development not only increased the performance of the cranes, but also significantly reduced operating costs,” he said.

The collaboration between Kuenz and ABB has previously proven successful in large collaborative projects, such as the implementation of 54 ARMGs in the current terminal of APM Terminals at Maasvlakte II.

“We have been able to deliver the highest level of automation resulting in a terminal with high productivity and low maintenance needs,” said Clara Holmgren, business line manager ports, ABB Marine & Ports.

“We are excited to take this proven concept to the next level, delivering the efficiency gains that are only available to the leaders of terminal automation.”