Sep 2, 2008 11:04 AM

Konecranes has in July received an order for nine straddle carriers from Belgian terminal operator and transport company Inter Ferry Boats (IFB). The order also includes service for the equipment. The straddle carriers will be delivered to Antwerp in February 2009. The value of the order is not disclosed.

IFB, owned by Belgian Railways, provides integrated transport solutions by rail, barge and truck. These activities are supported by terminal operations, customs handling and other value added services. The straddle carriers ordered will be used for moving and stacking containers at IFB's Intermodal Hub in Antwerp.

'The Belgian market is one of the most important markets in the straddle carrier business,' says Jens Andreas, Director, Straddle Carriers at Konecranes. 'This order gives us a great opportunity to prove ourselves and the capabilities of our products in this market.'

Konecranes won the order thanks to the unique technical solution, the design and the high quality of the straddle carrier. The longstanding, indepth partnership in OEM terminal equipment and service between IFB and Konecranes played an important role in the decision making process. To maintain the high standard of OEM equipment services for IFB and even improve them, Konecranes recently opened a fully fledged terminal equipment and crane service branch in the Port of Antwerp, close to the customer's container terminals.

The nine straddle carriers have a lifting capacity of 50 metric tons and can stack containers 1 over 3 high. They represent the latest technology on the market, including new steering and brake systems developed by Konecranes. They will be used for moving and stacking containers in the container yard and loading/unloading trucks. 

About Konecranes

Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses ™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity-enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment and machine tools of all makes. In 2007, Group sales totaled EUR 1,750 million. The Group has 9,350 employees, at more than 470 locations in 43 countries. Konecranes is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki (symbol: KCR1V).