A Consens straddle carrier.

Konecranes has entered the straddle carrier business after buying all Consens Transport Systeme GmbH's product rights.

The acquisition includes finished, stocked products, semi-manufactured products and Consens's intangible assets, Konecranes communications officer Fredrik Wicklund said.

Jyrki Melaanvuo, director of yard cranes, who leads a team of experts from Consens joining Konecranes, said the acquisition combined Konecranes' "intelligent lifting solutions with Consens's knowledge of straddle carriers".

Konecranes estimates the market for straddle carriers is more than 500 units a year. The machines supplement Konecrane's ship-to-shore cranes, rail-mounted gantry cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, forklifts and reach stackers.

The Finnish manufacturer's existing distribution and service network for cranes and forklifts will market the new product line.

"The Konecranes straddle carrier is designed to maintain shock-free lifting of 60 tons and has a true twin 20 lifting capability," Melaanvuo said.

The acquisition value was not disclosed.

Last year, Konecranes acquired MMH Holdings Inc, the owner of US-based Morris Materials Handling Inc, for USD79 million (Forkliftaction.com News #265). Konecranes bought UK-based Morris Material Handling Ltd in 2005 (Forkliftaction.com News #191) and SMV Lifttrucks AB in 2004 (Forkliftaction.com News #174).