Paterson Simons recently attended the 2026 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane (MHC) Sales & Representatives Meeting, held across the Netherlands and Belgium. Bringing together representatives from around the world, the conference provided valuable insights into Konecranes’ strategy, market outlook and the future direction of its Mobile Harbour Crane business.
The event combined technical presentations, training sessions and a port visit, with a strong focus on maintaining competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global market.
A key theme throughout the conference was Konecranes ambition to become the “Western Leader in Cargo Handling.” Rather than competing on price with lower-cost manufacturers, Konecranes continues to strengthen its position as a premium provider through advanced technology, reliability, performance and comprehensive after-sales support. As one of the leading global suppliers of Mobile Harbour Cranes, Konecranes continues to compete at the highest level while responding to increasing competition across the industry.
Innovation remains central to the Konecranes product offering. Developments highlighted during the conference included technologies such as Active Load Control (ALC), in-house lifting components and an expanding portfolio featuring hybrid, electric and new-generation crane solutions. These advancements continue to support greater efficiency, precision and future-ready operations for customers worldwide.
The conference also explored changing market dynamics, with discussions focusing on data-driven sales strategies, lifecycle support, retrofit opportunities, buy-back programmes and expansion into new markets beyond traditional ports. Service was identified as a significant growth area, with increased emphasis on full-service agreements, uptime guarantees and strengthening dealer partnerships through a new global partner programme.
Overall, the meeting reinforced Konecranes commitment to protecting its premium market position through technology, service excellence and innovation, while addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
For Paterson Simons, attendance at the conference provided valuable knowledge and reinforced confidence in continuing to promote and support the Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane range across West and Central Africa, ensuring customers benefit from world-class lifting solutions backed by local expertise and support.
