SENNEBOGEN 875 E: Electrically powered material handler with purpose-built rail gantry operates along the 820 ft. (250 m) long dock in the Swedish Port of Åhus

Åhus, Sweden – The Port of Åhus in Skåne has invested in a purpose-built electrically powered SENNEBOGEN 875 E material handler with a 531 HP (391 kW) tipping the scales at 165 tons. The 875 E was built to work on a customized rail gantry system that spans the 32 ft. (10 m) wide railway tracks. Its predecessor, an old crane dating back to 1977, could not keep up with the demands of a busy port. At 550 tons per hour, the 875 E has increased productivity by more than 55%.

Standing majestically alongside the sea, the 875 E is more than just a marvel to look at. In addition to being incredibly powerful, investing in an electrically powered SENNEBOGEN material handler was an important decision for the Port in Åhus for its potential savings and environmental concerns.

Sweden places great importance to the protection of the environment, not only in terms of emissions, but also in terms of the noise. After doing its due diligence, the combination of an electric drive and SENNEBOGEN’s state-of-the-art energy recapture system made the decision an easy one.

80 ft. (24 m) long boom and stick combination made of extra light, high-strength steel: combining the “Port” version of the stick and the compact boom allows for even more load capacity to be achieved at the end of the stick

Now, the Port is saving a ton of energy, while at the same time increasing handling capacity by around 55%. Since November 2020, the giant material handler has been unloading 550 tons of gypsum per hour, which is about 200 tons more than the previous machine. The Port of Åhus handles a total of 600,000 tons of dry bulk cargo annually, with more than 70% of it being gypsum or chalk.

The SENNEBOGEN 875 E – Performance at the highest level

Teamwork played an important role in the planning of the 875 E. As this is their “office”, operators were asked to weigh in when the specifications were being developed.

The keywords “comfort, safety and functionality” were top of mind while considering the design of the innovative material handler. Ulrik Johnsson, one of the drivers with 30 years experience as an operator, had this to say after three-months, “The speed of the 875 E is remarkable. It used to take one and a half working days to unload a 4,000 t bulk carrier, but today you can easily do it in one day. And the comfort in the cab is great. I hardly feel any vibrations and the noise levels have been significantly reduced.”

Thanks to the spacious Mastercab with floor window, the operator enjoys perfect all-round visibility for precise loading of various bulk materials

Purpose-built for the Port of Åhus

Another key feature of the 875 E is the SENNEBOGEN Mastercab. The galvanized surface makes it less prone to corrosion caused by saltwater which is always a concern at the port. Furthermore, the boom and stick, almost 80 ft. long (24 m) is protected from environmental influences with the help of a 240 μm-thick paint coating.

Other factors that lead to increased efficiencies and reduced costs include using lightweight, high-strength steel. Combining a relatively short 44 ft. (13.5 m) boom with a 40 ft. (12 m) stick in the “Port” version resulted in more load capacity at the stick’s end. Accordingly, the port operators can now effortlessly lift gypsum loads weighing around 8 t with the 6 cubic meter grab in even faster cycles.

All SENNEBOGEN rail gantries are customized and adapted to the existing rail dimensions in the port. In the case of Åhus, the machine spans a 32 ft. (10 m) wide rail gantry and moves quickly along the 820 ft. (250 m) long dock. The power supply is also tailored to this application. In this case, SENNEBOGEN used a spiral winding, motorized cable reel with a center feed. Along the dock, there is an innovative system designed to protect the cable. The flaps open and close automatically as the cable is extended and retracted. This flap mechanism is controlled in its movement by the gantry itself using levers based on the zipper principle along the entire quay length. Thanks to the 531 HP (390 kW) electric motor and a matching cold temperature package, it quickly heats the hydraulic tank and hybrid system to operating temperature. This means that the

875 E is always ready for action – even in adverse and challenging weather conditions, a regular occurrence in Sweden!