Deman in demand at Belgium port

Nova & Hesse-Noord Natie Stevedoring (NHS) installed two Deman electric overhead travelling (EOT) cranes in its new Antwerp, Belgium warehouse

Stevedoring company NHS, which specialises in conventional cargo handling, started using its two new 45 tonne capacity Deman EOT cranes on 6 June 2011.

They are handling coils in the new warehouse based at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. Almost identical, the pair each have a safe working load (SWL) of 45 tonnes and span 28.5 metres. Hoisting speeds are up to 27 m per minute, requiring a 160 kW hoisting motor. NHS chose Siemens to supply a majority of components, including inverters.

Both cranes have a radar positioning system over X- and Y-axis, completed with an encoder for the Z-axis. The system sends each coil position through a wireless connection to the ground station.

From the ground station the operator in the cabin is then instructed to pick the required coil. Subsequently, the operator can instruct the crane to automatically position itself above the chosen coil. To make these automated cycles safe and efficient, the cranes have an electronic anti-sway system.

The cranes also have cameras directed at the coils and the winch. In this way, the operator can control the exact location of the coil, as well as ensure the safe working of the winch - both without leaving his comfortable operator seat.

Deman built its first EOT and gantry cranes in 1969. It now offers its Basic+ range of cranes with up to 25 tonnes SWL. Since 1992 the company has partnered with SWF, which supplies hoists and carriages. Deman also offers the Custom range, including automated and heavy-duty cranes for waste-to-energy, concrete plants, machinery construction, steel and logistics.