Stinis Launches Long-Twin for Mobile Harbour Cranes
The Long Twin spreader with its telescoping system for adjusting the gap between two 20ft containers has become an industry standard for twin twenty container handling on STS cranes, and is a popular option for straddle carrier operations. We have now also developed a version for mobile harbour cranes!
The new spreader combines the proven concept of the separating STS Long-Twin with a new center of gravity adjustment system. In the new CoG design the tower slides atop the spreader and this way compensates for a weight difference up to 15t between the 2 containers. The height of the total two-piece system is not more than 100mm higher than a normal twin MHC spreader.
The first machine was delivered to Montecon S.A., based in Montevideo in Uruguay back in September 2021. Is has been in operation for over 5 months under a heavy-duty LHM800. COO of Montecon S.A. Diego Suarez estimates that the new Stinis Long-Twin will bring a 10% productivity increase to its operations. The productivity increase is due to the higher SWL, the separating Long-Twin mechanism and the high torque Stinis flippers.
The spreader that we supplied to Montecon weighs 18.3t which includes the Stinis Shock Absorbing System (800kg), 6 flippers, a safety platform and access stairs, and a mechanical structure capable of lifting 50t in 45’ position. For Montecon that operates a heavy duty LHM800 the spreader weight was not an operational constraint. However, for other container terminals it can be. Depending on the spreader configuration and SWL requirement, the spreader weight can be reduced. This can be interesting for terminals that handle empty containers for instance and want to boost their productivity.
The Long-Twin concept was developed and patented by Kees Stinis in the 90’s. It became a driving force behind the development of high capacity STS cranes and today is the standard for STS operations in many terminals world-wide. We are introducing this spreader at a time that the MHC cranes are getting progressively larger. We are curious to see how this spreader will increase the potential for twin-lift MHC operations.
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