Sustaining the green revolution
17 July 2023Incredible lifting and transport work is happening all around the world (see page 34 for a snapshot of just some of the awardwinning work being carried out in Europe alone). This issue, however, underscores a recurrent theme that, month on month, is growing in momentum across our industry: sustainability.
Heading up our News pages, for example, we report how Mammoet is now offering a zero emission option for its SPMT transport, compatible with any trailer in its fleet. This is due to rapid advancements in battery technology and, Mammoet claims, is a significant step towards achieving zero emission on job sites. This news follows Mammoet's announcement last month that it is building the world's largest electric crane.
Sustainability advancements can also be seen in ports around the world, as outlined in our Dockside Lifting feature. New electric container handling equipment from Hyster and Kalmar is pushing the boundaries of higher-capacity port equipment.
The 650-volt lithium-ion batteries for Hyster’s new container handler, destined for CARU Containers’ depot in The Netherlands, are charged by electricity sourced from solar panels on site, while Kalmar’s new reachstacker is, it claims, ‘the world’s most sustainable’ thanks to being made from 47% SSAB Zero steel – which is made from recycled steel and produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas.
Kalmar is also offering its customers the option of replacing standard fossil-based oil with Panolin biodegradable hydraulic oil as well as offering driver ‘eco’ training with gentler acceleration to reduce tyre wear.
Kalmar is also introducing a new emissions-reducing counterweigh – one made from unprocessed naturally heavy material to replace the standard cast-iron counterweights.
Away from the eco credentials of the equipment itself we must remember that much of the work being carried out is also for the good of the environment. For example, just some of the projects covered in this issue include: the assembly of huge wind turbines for what will be the world's largest floating wind farm; the replacement of an electrostatic filter for cleaning flue gases at a nickel smeltery in Finland; the transport of gas turbines for a power plant in Uzbekistan that will save up to 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions; and the installation of a gas scrubber designed to neutralise harmful components in Chile. I hope you enjoy reading this issue.
