Debut in Brazil

Gottwald Port Technology GmbH (Gottwald) has recently received the first order for its Generation 5 Harbour Crane Model 4 from Latin America. Contêineres de Vila do Conde S.A. (Convicon), lessee of the container terminal in the Port of Vila do Conde, near Belém, Brazil, has ordered a 100-tonne G HMK 4406 crane with motor grabs for handling containers and different bulk materials. The crane is scheduled to go into commercial operation in the second quarter of 2009.
Rainer Buessing, Gottwald’s Regional Sales Manager was particularly pleased with this order. “Our Generation 5 has already enjoyed a very positive response from many customers in Latin America. And this order shows that also Model 4, the latest machine in the Generation 5 family, succeeding the Generation 4 HMK 280 E, meets the demands of terminal operators in one of our most important markets. At the same time, with this order we have managed to win a new customer.”
Designed in a compact and functional manner, with a maximum lifting capacity of 100 tonnes and a working radius of up to 46 metres, Model 4 extends the existing model range of the Generation 5 in the 100-tonne segment downward. The crane meets the requirements of universal and special terminals and can serve ships up to the Panamax class. In addition, Model 4 is attractive for terminals that, on account of their size and development potential, are already anticipating larger cargo-handling volumes and increasing annual operating hours for discharging equipment.
“The purchase of a Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane has been our long-cherished wish. Gottwald enjoys an excellent reputation and there is no doubt in our minds that we are getting the best possible value for our money,” explained Paulo Roberto Brandão, one of the shareholders of Convicon. “The Port of Vila do Conde and Convicon offer an attractive option for cargo handling in the Belém region and we are convinced that the new G HMK 4406 will help us to further increase our competitive strength.”
With a 25% stake Paulo Roberto Brandão is one of the current controlling shareholders of Convicon. The majority control with a 75% stake is held by Santos Brasil Participações S.A., which also owns the Tecon terminal in the Port of Imbituba, where two Gottwald Model 6 cranes have been in operation since 2008.

Source: Transportweekly