Konecranes' SMV 4531

The world's first hybrid reachstacker has found another fan in the Rhenus Group, a leading global logistics service company based in Germany and operating out of 460 locations worldwide.

Rhenus subsidiary Contargo GmbH & Co KG recently bought a Konecranes SMV 4531 TC5 hybrid reachstacker to serve at the Duisburg Intermodal Terminal (DIT) in Germany. Here, the machine will contribute to DIT's increasing significance as a barge, rail and truck hub for both north-south and west-east connections in the Ruhr region.

Bernd Putens, managing director at DIT, says "DIT, alongside the entire Contargo group, places a high value on technologies that are eco-friendly and sustainable (and) a hybrid reachstacker fits perfectly into this ethos and was a logical next step for us."

Konecranes's new hybrid technology was unveiled in January 2013. Since then, a successful year-long field test at the Port of Helsingborg, on the south-west coast of Sweden, succeeded in permanently placing the first Hybrid Lift Truck at the port, at which is has been serving in normal container-handling operations ever since.

The SMV 4531 TC5 reduces fuel consumption by at least 30% while CO2 emissions are cut by 20 kg per running hour.