Recently, four ship-to-shore cranes custom-built by ZPMC (Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Group) for the first phase of Hong Kong's Integrated Waste Management Facilities project were shipped from ZPMC's Changxing Branch, supporting the world's first integrated waste-to-energy construction project. These cranes currently hold the title of the world's most compact ship-to-shore cranes.
Featuring a rated load capacity of 25.5 tons, the cranes have a front outreach of 22.5 meters and no rear outreach, and the lifting height reaching 11 meters above rail and 6.5 meters below rail. Adopting ZPMC's proprietary semi-circular girder and full-tube portal frame structural system, their unique configuration combines low wind resistance with lightweight design, significantly optimizing the overall weight and operational resistance while effectively reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Equipped with self-propelled payload trolleys integrating advanced independent dual-drive, dual-drum tilt functions, the cranes deliver exceptionally dynamic responsiveness and precise maneuverability, ensuring efficient, stable, and accurate operations in complex working conditions. This project demonstrates ZPMC's powerful innovation capabilities in achieving green development in the high-end port machinery sector.
This breakthrough stems from ZPMC's 33 years of dedicated expertise in port equipment. Since developing its first ship-to-shore crane in 1992, the company has consistently driven progress through independent innovation, introducing products like the Twin Lift Twin 40’ STS crane, Super-Post-Panamax cranes, 3E-class cranes (extra efficient, extra long, extra wide), and 3E PLUS-class cranes. These innovations pioneered next-generation crane technologies, boosted global shipping and logistics efficiency, and sparked an industry revolution in port machinery upgrades. ZPMC has also developed customized solutions for specialized environments—including seismic zones, typhoon-prone areas, airport height restrictions, and inland waterways—such as earthquake-resistant cranes, semi-circular girder cranes, low-profile cranes, and low-carbon modular inland river cranes, further demonstrating the global adaptability of its crane solutions.
As the advance for the next-generation smart ports, ZPMC integrates cutting-edge automation and intelligent technologies—including sensors, control systems, robotics, and visual recognition—into its cranes, enabling automated and highly efficient container handling operations. This not only enhances terminal productivity but also reduces the difficulty and risks associated with manual operations.
ZPMC consistently adheres to its "customer-first" philosophy, continuously advancing high-quality project execution. The company boasts the world's largest and most technologically advanced port machinery production base—ZPMC Changxing Branch—capable of manufacturing over 200 ship-to-shore cranes annually. It maintains a 400-member crane R&D design team and a globally top-tier industrial workforce to meet diverse customer needs. With six intelligent production lines and ten robotic workstations, ZPMC provides robust momentum for enhancing crane production quality and efficiency.
ZPMC's ship-to-shore cranes operate in 109 countries and regions worldwide, maintaining leadership concerning its share in the global market share for 28 consecutive years. The company has twice been awarded the title of "Manufacturing Single Champion Product" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and China Federation of Industrial Economics. Moving forward, ZPMC will accelerate research on key crane technologies and product development, continually providing global ports with more efficient, intelligent, and eco-friendly handling equipment while further polishing the shining name card of "Made in China."
Source from: China Traffic News