Konecranes signs a major service agreement with MPET in Antwerp, Belgium
In August 2017, Konecranes signed a major service agreement: the company’s Antwerp-based service organization will perform all of the maintenance and repair work on more than 150 Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers of different generations for MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET), the single largest container terminal in Europe. The purpose of this service agreement is to achieve consistently high availability of the entire machine fleet, the company said in its press release.
MPET, which handles the majority of containers in the Port of Antwerp, saw steady growth in 2016. Randy Verresen, Manager Rolling Equipment at Antwerp Terminal Services NV, service organization of PSA Antwerp and MPET: “Last year, we exceeded the 10 million TEU mark for the first time, which led to an increasing need for new machines. As a result, our fleet of Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers has expanded by almost 100 machines in the past twelve months. To keep the availability of the straddle carriers as high as possible, we are now entrusting the service work on the machines to their manufacturer Konecranes. We are certain that we are well-equipped for the anticipated continued growth of the terminal over the long term.”
With Konecranes, MPET has opted for a leading supplier of port technology solutions. Konecranes has been represented in Antwerp for decades with a dedicated service organization that offers customers a wide range of expertise. Tom Cerpentier, Regional Director Port Services, Konecranes: “Antwerp is one of the most important ports for us. In addition to straddle carriers, other types of Konecranes port equipment such as mobile harbor cranes (MHCs), automated stacking cranes (ASCs) and lift trucks that are operated by various customers in the port need to be serviced and maintained. This is why our on-site service team comprises a total of 18 technicians and will now be strengthened by another 16 service experts specifically as part of the service agreement concluded with MPET for the straddle carriers.”
With the presence of its service team in Antwerp, Konecranes ensures its customer proximity to one of the leading ports in Europe. Cerpentier: “Our aim is to offer customers reliable and high-quality service around the clock, with as little equipment down-time as possible. Leading terminal operators such as MPET benefit from our know-how as the equipment manufacturer. Our expertise makes a major contribution to the extremely high fleet productivity of our customers.”
Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment of all makes. In 2016, Group (comparable combined company) sales totaled EUR 3,278 million. The Group has 16,800 employees at 600 locations in 50 countries. Konecranes class A shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).
