UK: GE Energy’s Procrane Solution for Port of Felixstowe

GE Energy’s Power Conversion business was the successful tenderer for the supply of the major elements of power, control and automation equipment in the mid-life upgrade of a Morris container handling ship-to-shore crane at the port of Felixstowe.

Strategically located in south east England, Felixstowe is the United Kingdom’s largest container port and is among the largest in Europe.

GE Energy’s Power Conversion business delivered an entire new ProCrane main hoist AC drive and motor system to replace the existing DC equipment. In addition, GE will upgrade the control and automation system comprising a number of PLCs and an extensive SCADA system.

Container handling at a major strategic port is a business in which reliability isn’t optional—the major assets must remain available 24/7 throughout the year. GE has been contracted to provide an upgrade package comprising of a blend of new equipment and the comprehensive refurbishment of some existing systems in order to help maintain that reliability.

“We were absolutely delighted to have been selected for our first project with the Port of Felixstowe. Our advanced ProCrane AC drive system is in use in a great number of crane applications worldwide,” said Steve Raynor, growth region leader for GE Energy’s Power Conversion business. “Its extreme high-power density and advanced PECe control concept makes it ideally suited to such upgrade projects as its compact size means that it can fit easily into existing equipment spaces without the need for extensive modification. Power Conversion has demonstrated that it has effective engineering and support skills in addition to having advanced equipment—it’s that all-around capability that appeals to our customers.”

Final commissioning of the upgrade project was completed in March 2012.

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Source: Converteam, April 12, 2012; Image: Port of Felixstowe