In 2013 Paterson Simons supplied and commissioned a fleet of 22 Konecranes RTGs, 11 Konecranes lift trucks and 64 Terberg yard tractors to the Lomé Container Terminal (LCT). At the same time a comprehensive service and maintenance contract for the supplied fleet as well as the terminal’s 12 Post Panamax ship-to-shore cranes was initiated. Paterson Simons also placed a permanent team of twenty seven engineers on site, led by ex-pat engineer Alex Rochet.
Ship-to-shore cranes operate at heights of up to 40m, and the engine rooms are still higher. It is therefore necessary that each one have a rack and pinion access lift. As a way of enhancing their STS services Paterson Simons wished to provide a full service to STS lifts as well, and a strategic partnership with Alimak Hek was the next logical step.
In March 2016 the companies signed an agreement making Paterson Simons official dealers for Alimak Hek throughout the West African region.
The company now offers sales, service and maintenance for the entire Alimak Hek range of industrial lifts. On the occasion of the agreement John Traynor, MD of Paterson Simons, said, “It made sense to offer sales, parts, service and inspection of Alimak Hek products since we work so closely on the port and ship-to-shore cranes that many of them are installed on already.”
Alimak Hek are recognised as pioneers in the use of rack and pinion drive systems for the movement of men and materials, and today, Alimak Hek is the world’s leading manufacturer of rack and pinion equipment for industrial vertical access solutions.
This month the Lomé-based Paterson Simons team received their formal Alimak Hek training, conducted by Adam Björk of Alimak Hek, Sweden.
The Paterson Simons team passed the course with an average of 90%, and contract Service Manager, Markus Oelofsen achieved 100%. John Traynor comments, “We are very proud of the results achieved by the team in Lomé, specifically because most of the engineers are French-speaking, and the training was done in English. We now look forward to offering customers in the region enhanced Alimak Hek service and sales, and can offer 6 monthly inspection and drop testing throughout West Africa.”
Peter Taylor, Regional After Sales Manager for Alimak Hek, was also enthused by the results, commenting, “It really speaks to the type of partnerships we have developed across the globe; we are thrilled that through Paterson Simons Alimak Hek now has a centre of excellence in West Africa.”
About Alimak Hek
Alimak Hek is the global market leader and pioneer in designing, developing, manufacturing and servicing industrial rack and pinion vertical access solutions. The company provides high quality rack and pinion and traction elevators, hoists and platforms primarily for the industrial and construction sectors. Alimak Hek has a well-established global sales, services and distribution platform across more than 90 countries with strong market presence. The company has a large global installed base of over 22,000 units which provides unique know-how of all industrial application areas. Alimak Hek was founded in 1948, is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and employ over 1,200 people across the world.