Demag Cranes has been awarded a prize for exceptional innovative development. International Bulk Journal (IBJ), a leading international trade journal catering to the maritime bulk handling industry, recently awarded Gottwald Port Technology GmbH, a subsidiary of Demag Cranes AG, an “IBJ Award 2010” in the Innovative Technology (Cargo Handling) category for its new hybrid drive that can be fitted to Mobile Harbour Cranes.

“This award underlines once again the fact that, through its Gottwald brand name, Demag Cranes is maintaining its technological and innovation leadership status in port technology. This new hybrid drive is in response not only to economical needs but also to our customers’ wishes to incorporate sustainability in their working methods,” emphasised Thomas H. Hagen, Member of the Management Board of Demag Cranes AG and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The award is for the new hybrid drive for Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes which was launched in March 2010. This drive improves energy efficiency and, as a result, makes it easier to operate Mobile Harbour Cranes in an environmentally compatible manner. By combining state-of-the-art diesel generators with electrostatic short-term energy storage modules (ultracaps), fuel savings in the two-digit percentage range can be achieved. The new hybrid drive has been trialled under real terminal conditions as part of the pilot project using a converted diesel-electric crane. This new drive technology is of particular interest to operators in the field of professional bulk handling, where more focus is being brought to bear on reducing emissions. The technology enables terminal operators to reduce not only fuel consumption and overheads but also exhaust gas emissions sustainably. Existing cranes can be retrofitted with the technology if customers so wish. The cranes that are being included in the product range for the first time, such as the new Model 3, are already designed for quick and easy adaptation to the new hybrid drives.

About Demag Cranes:
The Demag Cranes Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial cranes and crane components, harbour cranes and terminal automation technology. Services, in particular maintenance and refurbishment services, are another key element of the Group’s business activities. The Group is divided into the business segments Industrial Cranes, Port Technology and Services and has strong and well-established Demag and Gottwald brands. Demag Cranes sees its core competence in the development and construction of technically sophisticated cranes and hoists as well as automated transport and logistics systems in ports and terminals, the provision of services for these products and the manufacture of high-quality components.

As a global supplier, Demag Cranes manufactures in 16 countries on five continents and operates a worldwide sales and service network that is present in over 60 countries through its subsidiaries such as Demag Cranes & Components GmbH and Gottwald Port Technology GmbH, agencies and a joint venture.

In financial year 2008/2009, the Group, with its 5,934 employees, generated revenue of EUR 1,047.6 million. Since the end of June 2006, the Demag Cranes share (WKN: DCAG01) has been listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is traded on various indices including the MDAX®.