Hutchison Ports orders an automated horizontal transport system  

Konecranes will supply an advanced Automated Horizontal Transport (AHT) System, supporting the Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam (ECT) Euromax terminal’s transition to fully electric operations.

In 2005, the parties signed a contract for the delivery of 96 diesel-electric Konecranes Gottwald AGVs. Having provided two decades of reliable performance, the AGVs laid the foundation for Hutchison Ports ECT’s next step towards more sustainable operations.

The new order, booked across Q1 and Q2 2025, includes 42 Li-Ion Konecranes AGVs and Automated Charging Stations with fast-charging capabilities. The status of AGV batteries, both in operation and during charging, is handled by a Battery Management System, which collects and stores operational and charging data to secure efficient battery operation and long-term reliability.

The AGVs are designed for fully automated container handling and will seamlessly operate alongside the existing diesel-powered AGV fleet. All of this is controlled by Konecranes’ TEAMS ECS (Equipment Control System), software that manages the routing of the AGVs and their sequencing with Ship-to-Shore cranes (STS) and Automated Stacking Cranes (ASC). A Failure Management & Diagnostic System provides an overview of equipment status down to the component level, including batteries and charging technologies.

“This deal underlines two decades of operational success for Konecranes Gottwald AGVs at the ECT Euromax terminal. Konecranes is ready to further support the terminal’s modernization journey for the next 20 years, with electrification in full focus,” says Ralf Konnerth, director of Automated Horizontal Transport at Konecranes.

This project is another step in Konecranes’ path to port automation, where container terminals improve productivity and safety incrementally. From smart features to full automation, Konecranes provides scalable solutions tailored to customer needs. The path to port automation applies to all container handling equipment brands, enabling flexibility for a variety of operational goals.

This contract is also part of Ecolifting, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – the beneficial environmental impact achieved through our products and services – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From hybrid technologies to fully electrified fleets, Konecranes continues to help customers achieve more with less.