LIFT TRUCKS
Konecranes’ technology cuts fuel consumption and emissions by 25%
Frequent downtime, high fuel consumption and excessive emissions are the bane of equipment operators in the material handling market. The total time interval between when a machine goes down to when it is fully operational can be financially crippling, especially when the downtime causes shipping delays and demurrage is charged in dollars. Increased fuel consumption can directly impact profit margins and elevated levels of pollution can compromise an equipment’s environmental performance. Therefore, any advancements to equipment to reduce overhead costs and emissions are most welcome by material handling companies. Konecranes range of lift trucks, which has a long history of working with leading container ports and terminals, promises peace of mind with the latest technology to keep the wheels turning, reduce running costs, and ensure compliance with emission regulations. Lenny Naidoo, Acting National Operations Manager for Heavy Lift, a division 24
Lifting Africa - Sep/Oct 2023
of CFAO Equipment SA that sells heavy forklifts to container handlers and the ports industry, says that for over 80 years, Konecranes has been the industry-leader in the lifting sector, offering reliable and resilient container lift trucks, reach stackers and forklift trucks for shipyard, port and terminal applications. “From the start, Konecranes has invested in research and development to continually improve the safety, productivity and cost-effectiveness of equipment. The new technology enables us to give every one of our customers fitfor-purpose solutions for their own set of circumstances. Added to this, our service-minded attitude makes all the difference,” says Naidoo. Flow Drive cuts costs and emissions The Konecranes Lift Trucks Flow Drive concept not only significantly cuts down fuel consumption and emissions by up to 25%, but also enhances the driver experience and
increases active operation time. “Flow Drive, a Konecranes innovation, uses hydromechanical variable transmission (HVT) to limit power at low speed, lowering wear, fuel consumption and emissions on a heavy-duty engine that maintains full performance. With greater intervals between refuelling and less maintenance, it can significantly increase productivity. It's a solution that brings concrete benefits to everyday operations and an increase in overall productivity,” says Naidoo. Active preventive maintenance Konecranes active preventive maintenance programme also plays a crucial role in improving productivity and safety. Since preventive maintenance can reduce downtime and increase reliability, Konecranes CheckApp for daily inspections is an easy-to-use app for crane users to quickly and easily record their findings when performing pre-shift and/or pre-