GERMAN major Stahl CraneSystems, one of the leading brands and the largest manufacturer of explosion-protected hoists and crane components, will be showcasing its premium products and solutions for complex lifting/handling requirements in safe/hazardous atmosphere at Adipec this year.

The company’s product range extends from electrical chain hoists up to overhead cranes with 160 tonne safe working load (SWL). It is also one of the leading global suppliers of off standard hoists, wire rope hoists, winches for gas and dust environments, drive and control technology and condition monitoring systems.

“This concept of total solution – engineering, manufacturing, commissioning and documentation – has been successfully implemented and promoted by us in the last several years. We are now exploring the possibility of expanding our business more effectively in North Africa,” says Jayakrishnan, business development manager, Stahl Crane Systems.

The company is exhibiting at stand 8135B, Hall 8/9, in the German Pavilion.

Established in 1876, the company’s global head office and production facility is located at Kuenzelsau, in Germany. Its other offices are located in the UAE (Dubai), US (Charlston), UK (Birmingham), Spain (Madrid), China (Shanghai), Singapore, and India (Chennai).

In the Middle East, Stahl has forged partnerships with local companies. In Abu Dhabi, UAE, it has partnered with Al Sahwa; in Saudi Arabia, it has joined hands with Al Zamil Group Holding; in Qatar with Petrotech; in Kuwait with Equipment Company, in Oman with Premier Integrated Enterprises and in Iraq with Nassr State Company.

“We have over 130 years of practical approach and experience, a constant drive for innovation and developments which characterise our history. We have decisively influenced the progress of the industry in many fields.

“Products from Stahl CraneSystems belong to the top flight internationally as regards technology and cost-effectiveness. A global sales network of over 100 partners and local support teams offer expert advice and support various projects,” says Chris Wilson, area development manager, Stahl Crane Systems.

“Decades of experience and know-how, our own fundamental research and development, approvals from the Federal Physico-Technical Institute (PTB) and other institutes in many countries emphasise our expertise,” he adds.

Stahl CraneSystems’ top flight products

In addition to its complete range of products, Stahl also offers wide-ranging services from consulting to engineering to gaining national approvals and certification for its products.

“Explosion-protected hoists and crane components from Stahl CraneSystems meet European Atex directives and have been certified as complying with the internationally sought-after IECEx scheme,” he says.

Returning to Adipec after two years, Stahl says that attending Adipec is the most efficient way to interact with customers in the region and evaluate products/services for global markets and not just for the UAE.

“Response in Adipec was the best in the region and we received more enquiries and valuable feedback which wouldn’t have been achieved without attending Adipec.

Most of the interactions we had with customers were qualitative and to some extent influenced the decisions on various projects. We were able to generate new enquiries and speed up the procurement/evaluation process in some of the ongoing projects as well,” says Jayakrishnan.

“As Adipec attracts some of the most important players in the Middle Eastern oil and gas industry with a focus on Adnoc, it is a great opportunity for us to exchange ideas and share information on all upcoming projects in the region. The participation of most of the EPC contractors in the oil and gas segment makes the event more attractive to us,” he adds.

The company’s turnover has grown steadily in comparison to last year by about 10 to 15 per cent mainly on its strength in project business. “Business in the domestic market is more of a balancing act,” says Jayakrishnan and adds:

“One needs to be very cost effective and should have right partners to turnaround the business. We took several steps to improve our business in the domestic market and we expect our performance will improve in the coming years.”

One of the most important developments within the group over the past 12 months has been the introduction of Eastern Morris Crane Company (EMC) to Stahl CraneSystems brand.

Early this year, Stahl CraneSystems announced a new partnership with Al Zamil Group Holding in Saudi Arabia to form Eastern Morris Cranes and emerge as the leading supplier of the entire product range from Stahl CraneSystems in the Saudi market, and also provide spares and after sales services.

“This has given us an opportunity to substantially improve the business in Saudi Arabia and also expand our crane building capacities in the region,” Jayakrishnan says.

Wilson says it has won several contracts with Korean engineering companies last year. This includes ethylene vinyl acetate plant project awarded to Stahl by GS Engineering & Construction, the Habshan NGI project for Gasco through Samsung Engineering and Wara pressure maintenance project for Kuwait Oil Company also through GS Engineering & Construction.

The lifting major also secured a large project in Qatar called Barzan onshore project which was awarded to it by JGC Cooperation from Japan.

At present, the company is closely monitoring the global economic turnarounds. Proposal to develop Stahl CraneSystems Middle East as the project headquarters for Mena and Asian region is one of the developments expected in coming years.

The LNG hoists from Stahl CraneSystems have been designed especially for maintenance work in natural gas liquefaction plants (LNG). Thanks to their high-quality components and robust design they are ideal for use near the coast in challenging climate conditions, says the company.

Equipped with two rope drums, two ropes, two gears and two motors, they are explosion-protected and certified in compliance with the strict Atex directives and IECEx regulations.

Thanks to their redundant design and rocking suspension, Stahl CraneSystems’ LNG wire rope hoists are regarded as the safest hoists presently available on the market.