Konecranes to deliver 3 reach stackers to boost Chiquita exports in Guatemala

In Q3 2023, Chiquita Guatemala S.A. (Chiquita) received the first two of three Konecranes reach stackers for their Terminal Ferroviaria in Puerto Barrios. With one more scheduled for delivery in 2024, all three will help raise Chiquita’s banana business to the next level.  

Chiquita bananas are famous worldwide, and Puerto Barrios is an important regional distribution hub. With high volumes and tight time constraints to ensure freshness, Chiquita needs modern, reliable container handling that can operate almost 24/7.

“We are leaders in the tropical fruit market. To maintain our position, we need the best quayside equipment available. Konecranes offered us reach stackers that are already improving our efficiency, simplifying our processes and lowering our costs. Once all three are on-site, their high performance and advanced systems will further streamline our operations,” says Ramses Lobo Ortiz, Regional Manager Logistics, Chiquita.

“These reach stackers represent a new stage in our partnership with Chiquita as they employ the latest in lifting technology. State-of-the-art digital features will help Chiquita maintain their strong position in a highly competitive industry,” says Paco Pruden, Product Support Manager Americas, Lift Trucks, Konecranes.

“As regional distributor for Konecranes Lift Trucks in Central America and the Caribbean, we have a long history of cooperation with Chiquita. We will continue to provide timely after-sales service and spare parts for these new deliveries,” says Eric Gentzschein, Director, Genar Inc.

The first two reach stackers, a Konecranes SMV 4632 TC5 and a Konecranes SMV 4632 TC6H are already on-site. The third one, currently on its way, is a Konecranes Liftace 4532 TCE5. With three different models, Chiquita has more operational flexibility to allow for changing conditions within the terminal. All three vehicles are Smart Connected Lift Trucks on which TRUCONNECT® Remote Monitoring collects usage and functional diagnostics to improve safety, optimize performance and maintenance, and reduce environmental impact. Tire Pressure Monitoring provides alerts for pressure changes to help further cut fuel consumption and extends tire lifetime. The SOLAS-compliant Konecranes Static Weighing System eliminates the need for a separate scale, speeding up operations. All measurement data is transmitted directly from the reach stackers to the yourKONECRANES customer portal for easy access and analysis.

A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.

For a concise overview of Konecranes’ business, please click here. More information on Konecranes Lift Trucks can be found here.