GERMANY —Konecranes has received an order to supply four Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs) to Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven (CTW), operated within Eurogate’s German terminal network. The order was booked in the third quarter of 2026, and handover is planned for the second quarter of 2028. The agreement also includes an option for four additional ASCs at Eurogate’s Container Terminal Hamburg, although the additional equipment has not been confirmed as ordered.
The deployment is intended to connect the new cranes with existing terminal equipment to support automated container movement. This approach allows automation to be introduced within established terminal infrastructure rather than requiring the entire handling system to be replaced. Integration with existing equipment and control systems will be central to implementing automated yard operations.
Eurogate is pursuing a supplier-independent automation model in which equipment from different manufacturers can operate through its Equipment Control System (ECS). Under this approach, suppliers must meet the terminal operator’s technical and operational requirements while supporting compatibility with other equipment and systems. Konecranes was selected to provide the cranes based on its automation capabilities and ability to meet these requirements.
The order is relevant to Germany’s container logistics sector, where terminal operators are seeking to improve the coordination and efficiency of cargo handling. Automated stacking equipment can support more consistent container placement and movement, while integration with existing systems can help operators introduce new capabilities in stages. The operational outcome will depend on successful system integration, commissioning and the performance of the equipment in the terminal environment.
For Konecranes, the contract extends its equipment supply relationship with Eurogate into automated container-yard operations. For Eurogate, the Hamburg option provides a potential route to expand the deployment beyond Wilhelmshaven, subject to a separate decision to exercise it. If adopted, a wider rollout could increase the importance of interoperability between equipment suppliers as the operator develops its automation strategy across multiple terminals.
Konecranes is a Finland-based industrial equipment group that supplies lifting equipment, cranes and related services, including solutions for port and container handling. Eurogate is a European container terminal operator with facilities in Germany, including Wilhelmshaven and Hamburg. The project brings the equipment supplier and terminal operator together on a deployment that combines new automated cranes with existing port infrastructure.
