Liebherr strengthens in global and Latin American markets

Liebherr has expanded its share of the rubber-tyred gantry crane (RTG) market, with deliveries to Polish, Egyptian, Irish and Russian ports, while shipping 15 mobile harbour cranes to Latin América this year.

Liebherr Container Cranes, based in Killarney, said it is set to exceed last year's sales figures and that growth is projected to continue. Liebherr Nenzing, which oversees the maritime equipment operations at Liebherr, also said the company has recently received contracts from Brasil, Chile y Argentina.

So far this year Liebherr has delivered four LHM 550s to Perú, two each going to APM Terminals Callao and Terminales Portuaria Euroandinos in Paita, bringing the number of LHM cranes in the country up to five.

Earlier this year Terminales Portuarias del Pacifico in Lazaro Cardenas, México began utilising an LHM 550 at its new terminal while another LHM 550 began operation at the Port of Manzanillo in October, becoming the fifth Liebherr mobile harbour crane working in Mexico.

Ports in Colombia and Guatemala have also received LHM 420 mobile harbour cranes this year.

Sales of Liebherr's RTG cranes have been performing well globally. In Gdansk, Polonia, which already operates 11 Liebherr RTG's and five Liebherr ship-to shore (STS) cranes, DCT Gdansk has taken delivery of three 16 wheeler RTG cranes with a one over four configuration stacking up to seven containers wide. DP World Sokhna, operating in Egipto, has also taken a second delivery of six RTG cranes with a one over five configuration, increasing its number of RTG cranes to 11.

Along with a six RTG deal with a port in St. Petersburg, to be followed by another five cranes for the port, and an electric cable reeling drum RTG crane recently installed at the Ringaskiddy facility of the Irish Port of Cork, the company is positive about results for this year and 2013.

Liebherr Container Cranes managing director Pat O'Leary said: "In today's port environment productivity and costs are crucial. During 2012 we scheduled the delivery of several RTG projects and by year-end we will have exceeded last year's figures. Initial indications are that 2013 figures are in accordance with projections."