23 March 2010 – With its new hybrid drive, Gottwald Port Technology GmbH, demonstrates that improved energy efficiency contributes to both the economical and environmentally compatible operation of Mobile Harbour Cranes. This technology uses state-of-the-art diesel generators in connection with dynamic brake resistors and short-term energy storage to achieve fuel savings in the double-digit percentage range.

This is shown by the results of comprehensive tests carried out with a diesel-electric Model 6 crane, completed by Gottwald, the only manufacturer of Mobile Harbour Cranes with electric drive technology. The result is that Gottwald is able to improve the efficiency of Mobile Harbour Cranes which cannot be hooked up to an external power supply due to the quay infrastructure, which empowers terminal operators to sustainably reduce fuel consumption, fuel costs and exhaust gas emissions. By the same token, Gottwald makes
it possible for terminal operators to position themselves in a strong position when it comes to negotiating terminal concessions.

It has been possible for some time now, if a machine uses electric drive technology, to return the energy recovered from the machine's deceleration motions to the crane's internal power system. If, however, no consumers in the system currently require that energy, this excess energy is dissipated in brake resistors, i.e. converted to heat. Where, in the past, these resistors could only be switched in in relatively large steps, today it is possible to make use of dynamic brake resistors to improve the machine's energy rating considerably.
In response to demands for further improvements in efficiency, Gottwald has developed a hybrid drive which includes short-term energy storage for the recovered energy which is then made available to the crane's power system for the next work cycle.

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