The G HMK 7608.

Gottwald Port Technology has supplied the Port of Hamburg with its largest mobile harbour crane.

The G HMK 7608, working at a terminal owned by C. Steinweg GmbH & Co KG, was the first of Gottwald's new generation five series harbour cranes to be delivered in Germany. The crane was launched in the northern hemisphere's spring.

C. Steinweg bought the crane as part of a EUR3.5 million (USD4.47 million) plan to expand the terminal.

"The new mobile harbour crane means we nearly double capacity," C Steinweg managing director Ulf Boll said.

The crane, which has a lifting capacity of up to 150 tonnes, would be used to lift turbines and pressure tanks. It is equipped with a four-rope hoist and a diesel-generator with an output of 895kW. Its maximum hoisting speed is 100 metres a minute.

Gottwald, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, has received orders for more than 20 of the new cranes.

Gottwald, based in Düsseldorf, Germany, produces mobile harbour cranes, automated guided vehicles, automated stacking cranes and wide span gantries. About 800 people work in Düsseldorf. A member of Demag Cranes AG, Gottwald's turnover for the 2004/05 fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, was EUR237.1 million (USD302.8 million).