12 Apr 2011

Cascade, Kuenz and Vahle team up with Port Equipment Manufacturers Association

07.04.2011 – Materials handling specialist Cascade Corporation, mobile electrification equipment producer Vahle, and container handling systems manufacturer Hans Kuenz have become the most recent additions to the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA), as the body continues to grow its presence in the global ports industry.

“Kuenz and Vahle are widely-respected port equipment manufacturers and Cascade is a global expert in the lift truck market. We look forward to working together on important issues facing the industry today, such as safety, sustainability, technological development and improved operational efficiency,” notes PEMA President, Ottonel Popesco.

Vahle’s cable management, conductor bar and inductive power systems are used in applications around the world to power mobile equipment such as overhead cranes, production lines and vehicles that require land-based power.

Vahle also specialises in communication and positioning systems that enable full automation of vehicles and mobile equipment. Paul Vahle founded the company in 1912 in Germany, following his invention and patenting of the original conductor bar.

Established in Austria in 1932, Kuenz manufactures container transfer and handling cranes for intermodal applications, (river-road, rail-river-road), automated stacking cranes for harbour and rail yard operations, and custom-designed spreaders. The company also provides comprehensive after-sales, training and maintenance services.

Founded in 1943 in Portland, Oregon as a small machine shop employing just four people, Cascade has grown to be a leading global provider of lift truck attachments and related products. Today the company has three manufacturing facilities in the USA, plus production subsidiaries worldwide. Its European headquarters are in Almere, the Netherlands.

PEMA provides a forum and public voice for the global port equipment and technology sectors, reflecting their critical role in enabling safe, secure, sustainable and productive ports and thereby supporting world maritime trade.

In the past two years, the Association has substantially expanded its membership and the scope of its activities. For example, PEMA recently established working groups on safety, the environment and technology.

For more information on this news release, please contact Michael Scheepers at michael.scheepers@pema.dns-systems.net. For further details about PEMA and its activities, visit www.pema.org or contact Rachael White, PEMA Secretary General, on: rachael.white@pema.dns-systems.net.

About PEMA

PEMA provides a forum and public voice for the global port equipment and technology sectors, reflecting their critical role in enabling safe, secure, sustainable and productive ports and thereby supporting world maritime trade.

Chief among the aims of the Association is to foster good relations within the world port equipment and technology community, by providing a forum for the exchange of views on global trends in design, manufacture and operation. PEMA also aims to promote and support the global role of the equipment and technology industries, by raising awareness with the media, customers and other stakeholders; forging relations with other port industry associations and bodies; and contributing to best practice initiatives.

PEMA now has 44 member companies including: ABB, Actiw, Advanced Microwave Engineering, APS Technology, Baltkran, Brevetti Stendalto, Brieda Cabins, Bromma, Bureau Veritas, Cargotec, Cascade, Cavotec MSL, Conductix-Wampfler, Control Techniques, Craneports, Gottwald Port Technology, Hans Kuenz, Hi-Tech Solutions, Hyster Europe, Identec Solutions, ifm electronics, Konecranes, Lasstec, Linde Heavy Truck Division, Liftech Consultants, Loxystem, MAFI Transport-Systeme, Michelin, Nexans, Portek Group, Pintsch Bubenzer, Prysmian, RAM Spreaders, Sany Port Equipment, SICK, Siemens, Stinis, Svetruck, Terberg Benschop, Terex Cranes, Tratos Cavi, TTS Port Equipment, Vahle and Visy.