Liebherr Pactronic Sets the Benchmark for Bulk Handling in Spain
Equipped with Liebherr’s Pactronic hybrid power booster, the LHM 550 of Galigrain S.A. demonstrates the capability of this innovative system.
In 2011, Liebherr has delivered a LHM 550 to Galigrain S.A., Marín, located on the west coast of Spain. Galigrain’s first state-of-the-art mobile harbour crane is mainly used for bulk operation. This includes various types of cereals and bulk products from vessels up to Panamax size. Thanks to a maximum lifting capacity of 144 tonnes and an outreach of up to 54 metres the crane is also perfectly suitable for general cargo operation, just by an easy exchange of the lifting attachment.
With the intention to significantly increase the efficiency in bulk handling, Galigrain decided to equip the new crane with the innovative Pactronic® hybrid power booster in order to benefit from its unrivalled performance-enhancing characteristics. The hybrid drive system allows for more turnover and less fuel consumption at the same time, each in the range of 30%.
“The LHM 550 has enlarged the capacity and performance of our terminals and fits perfectly into our efforts towards more efficient and environmentally friendly operations. The performance of the crane exceeded by far our expectations, we are reaching frequently a peak turnover of 1.800t/h,” Galigrain’s Managing Director Mr Ceferino Nogueira García said. This outstanding turnover performance allows for a faster loading and unloading of bulk carriers. As a consequence, the Spanish port has increased its attractiveness for shipping lines.
In order to optimise bulk handling in ports it is necessary that the port infrastructure builds a common entity. Investing in an advanced mobile harbour crane is probably just one piece of the puzzle as the whole cargo handling chain needs to be adjusted to achieve maximum efficiency. Otherwise the material throughput is limited to the capacity of the weakest link of the chain. Parameters to adjust may include truck capacity, hopper position or size of the grab.
Liebherr supports its customers in getting the most out of their port equipment by providing valuable services, detailed analysis and cutting-edge port equipment with innovative features. In Marín, Liebherr engineers analysed the port infrastructure and the logistics processes in detail in order to increase speed of bulk transportation throughout the port. “A detailed analysis of the crane data, carried out by Liebherr’s engineers, also helped us to optimize operational parameters”, Mr García said. As a result of the harmonisation of Galigrain’s bulk transportation chain, the utilization degree of the crane capacity has significantly improved leading to new turnover peaks.
Pactronic® Hybrid Power Booster
Awarded with the State Prize Clean Technology Austria 2012, Liebherr’s Pactronic® hydraulic hybrid drive system for cranes is the first to achieve increased handling performance with reduced fuel consumption. By adding an accumulator as a secondary energy source instead of a bigger or additional prime mover, Pactronic® is regenerating the reverse power while lowering the load. In addition, the surplus power of the primary energy source is also used for charging the accumulator. The stored energy is transferred back to the system when the crane requires peak power during hoisting. In terms of turnover capacity, that means a plus of 30% compared to a conventional machine with equal power rating of the primary energy source. In addition, Pactronic® leads to a reduction of fuel/energy consumption (litre/ton) as well as CO2 and exhaust emissions in the range of 30% depending on the operation. The hybrid drive system is virtually maintenance free as it just needs visible inspection every 10 years. 100% recyclability as well as less noise exposure are additional eco-friendly benefits of this advanced system.