Belgian terminal operator PSA Antwerp has signed an agreement with Austrian crane manufacturer Kuenz and global technology provider in electrification and automation ABB to order 14 new automated stacking cranes (ASCs) for Europa Terminal at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
When the new equipment arrives, the Europa Terminal will have 48 new ASCs to operate its upgraded yard. According to PSA Antwerp, the new cranes will help to expand the terminal’s capacity by 40% and reach its sustainability goals by reducing the total carbon emissions per handled container at the terminal by more than 50%.
This is PSA’s first order of end-load ASCs Group-wide. With the introduction of the end-load ASCs, all yard operation and truck handling will be done by ASCs. The purpose of this new way of handling is to significantly increase capacity.
Based on this, in the future, containers will be able to be stacked with a higher density of up to six high, instead of just three high.
Kuenz will design and produce the ASCs together with systems integration specialist ABB. Parts of the first six cranes will be delivered in early 2024 and assembled on site. Testing is expected to start in the third quarter of 2024. Kuenz and its partners will start the process of building the next four modules, eight cranes, in the third quarter of 2024, following a similar timeline as the first batch.
