Customer story
Tripling production in South Korea
Goliath Gantry Cranes from Konecranes have helped to triple production at South Korean shipyard Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. The Hyundai Samho shipyard is the fourth-largest in the world, with over 10,000 employees. Production is concentrated on tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships.
Even from miles away, the four giant Goliath cranes at the Hyundai Samho shipyard dominate the landscape. The largest one is 142 meters tall, has a span of 165 meters, and a capacity of 1,650 tons. Since Hyundai Samho also builds cranes, it was natural for the company to manufacture most of their Goliath Gantry Cranes. Konecranes delivered the hoists, lifting mechanisms, and control systems. The project was supervised by Konecranes experts.
Safety is prioritized in the Konecranes Goliath design. To keep the structure steady, the crane moves along two rails carried by 96 wheels, each of which can support 90 tons. There are 42 electric motors to ensure full control over lifting and movement. Current is fed to the crane through a wrist-thick cable that automatically reels in and out as the crane moves along the dock. The Konecranes single girder solution, lighter and stiffer than a double girder crane, helps to prevent load sway.
The results
Goliaths have become very popular in recent years. Although the crane was introduced in the 1960s, some 60 percent of the 66 Goliath cranes that Konecranes has sold since 1972 have been delivered since 2006. Thirty-three, or half of all the Goliaths supplied by Konecranes worldwide are now operating in South Korea.
None of the Konecranes Goliaths has been decommissioned due to aging. The basic steel structure can last pretty much forever, assuming that professional inspection and service routines are carried out regularly. The electrical equipment is normally updated every twenty years to keep up with technological development.
