Gottwald WSGs at Triport, Port of Ludwigshafen, Germany

Gottwald Port Technology has delivered five wide span gantry (WSG) cranes to Busto Arsizio-Gallarate rail terminal near Milan in Italy, operated by the Swiss combined transport operator Hupac.

The five cranes of identical design are double-rail WSGs that perform the same tasks as the terminal's existing KSR and Aumund cranes. The cranes have a span width of 38 metres and are equipped with nine metre long cantilever arms.

The lifting height is 12.8 metres, enabling one-over-three container handling. The lifting capacity on the ropes is 57 tonnes while the telescopic spreader will allow 41 tonne loads to be moved. The cranes travel at 140 metres a minute and cargo is raised and lowered at up to 30 metres a minute.

Giorgio Pennacchi, Hupac group director of engineering, said he was pleased with the technology and performance of the cranes.

"Busto Arsizio-Gallarate is becoming increasingly significant as a rail hub where Italian container shuttle traffic and combined transport crossing the Alps converge," he said. "Thanks to the improved capacity provided by the new cranes, we will be optimally equipped to deal with further growth in combined transport."

Hupac group has nine companies in Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, 3,519 rail carriages, 13 locomotives and 10 directly-managed intermodal terminals.