Terex commissions tandem lift assistant

Terex Port Solutions has commissioned a Tandem Lift Assistant at Rendsburg Port Authority in Germany.

The Tandem Lift Assistant system allows computer-controlled synchronised operation of a pair of cranes by a single crane driver. Data is exchanged between the cranes via a secure wireless LAN. The system was installed on the two cranes at the end of November 2012.

After completing a test move, the cranes performed their first commercial tandem lift in December, where they handled a 236 tonne lock gate.

The first of the two Terex Gottwald mobile harbour cranes was a Model 3 crane, variant G HMK 3405, which has a capacity of 100 tonnes. The second crane was a Model 8, G HMK 8610 with 150 tonnes capacity.

The cranes, which are positioned at Rendsburg Port, on the Kiel Canal in North Germany, are responsible for handling project cargo, including particularly large, heavy components for wind turbines. The commission means that the two cranes can now be used simultaneously to perform computer controlled tandem lifts.

Peter Klarmann, Rendsburg Port Authority managing director and the owner of the two cranes, said, "The Tandem Lift Assistant enables us to perform lifts with loads weighing up to 250 tonnes, which is more than any other crane in this region of Germany.

"Thanks to this capability, our cranes offer customers around the Kiel Canal a unique opportunity, which, of course, ensures us a competitive advantage when it comes to handling large, bulky and very heavy cargoes."