Two Konecranes reach stackers have just started handling containers at the Ultraport terminal in Puerto Angamos, a major port for Chile’s vital copper exports. Ultraport is ramping up efforts to reduce emissions and chose lift trucks featuring Flow Drive, a Konecranes innovation that uses a special transmission to cut fuel consumption without losing performance.

Ultraport has been a Konecranes customer for over a decade, with an extensive fleet that includes over 30 reach stackers and several mobile harbor cranes throughout Chile. They are part of Ultramar, which has installed the first Konecranes Rail-Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes on the continent at their Terminal Graneles del Norte (TGN). Ultraport has now continued to lead the way in material handling by introducing the first Flow Drive lift trucks to the region.

“As one of the leading port operators in Chile, we have a responsibility to maintain sustainable business in the region. Because Puerto Angamos plays such a key role in the Chilean economy, we believe it is the ideal location to start our emissions reduction program,” says Nelson Ojeda, Manager of Ultraport Angamos.

“The first Konecranes Flow Drive reach stackers in Latin America are a natural addition to Ultraport’s large Konecranes fleet. Their faith in our technology and expertise convinced them that this is the best solution for their emissions initiative. And we’re proud to work with trusted local distributor Trex to help Ultraport achieve their goals,” says Andres Ramirez, Sales Manager, Konecranes Lift Trucks.

The two new lift trucks are Konecranes SMV 4632 TC5 reach stackers equipped with Flow Drive, an innovative solution utilizing a hydromechanical variable transmission (HVT) to limit power at low speed, reducing wear and carbon emissions while cutting fuel consumption by up to 25% compared to a reach stacker with standard diesel configuration. A number of optional onboard features improve performance and safety while further reducing environmental impact: the Hydraulic Long Life (HLL) filter increases the oil change interval, automated central greasing minimizes mechanical wear and reduces maintenance, and two additional cameras located on the spreader that allow the driver to check the twist locks during the whole operation, while one rear camera aids visibility in reverse maneuvers. TRUCONNECT® Remote Monitoring collects operational diagnostics to help optimize usage and the Premium upgrade adds tire pressure monitoring to maintain stability, further cut fuel consumption and extend tire lifetime.

This delivery is part of Ecolifting™, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with our product and service portfolio – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully-electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.

A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.