What Is a Weihua Automated Quay Crane?
A Weihua automated quay crane is a ship-to-shore (STS) crane engineered by Henan Weihua (Weihua Shares) for fully automated or remotely supervised container terminal operations. Combining proprietary intelligent control systems, fiber optic communication, laser scanning, and anti-sway technology, the Weihua automated quay crane is purpose-built for high-throughput, low-labor smart port environments.
Unlike conventional STS cranes, the Weihua automated quay crane integrates seamlessly with a terminal’s Container Management System (CMS), enabling one operator in a central control room to supervise multiple remote-controlled automated quay cranes simultaneously — a defining feature of next-generation port automation.
Visão Geral do Projeto
On November 26, 2021, Weihua Shares conducted a landmark dispatch ceremony at its Jiangsu manufacturing base. The event marked the successful shipment of the first batch of three Weihua automated quay cranes — custom-built remote-controlled automated quay cranes — destined for Zhejiang Petrochemical’s (ZPC) smart container terminal at Yushan Island, Zhoushan.
The total contract covers six Weihua automated quay cranes (STS cranes), making this one of the largest single deployments of remotely controlled, fully automated STS cranes in China. As some of the most technically advanced automated quay cranes produced domestically, these units represent the highest level of design and manufacturing capability within Weihua’s port machinery division.
Key Technical Specifications
| Parâmetro | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Weihua Automated Quay Crane (STS Crane) |
| Working Height | 58 m |
| Raised Height (boom up) | 79 m |
| Total Length | 85 m |
| Rated Lifting Capacity (under spreader) | 41 t |
| Total Lifting Height | 46 m |
| Rail Gauge | 12 m |
| Front Outreach | 38 m |
| Total STS Cranes in Contract | 6 units |
These dimensions place the Weihua automated quay crane among the largest STS cranes manufactured for a single project at the Jiangsu base — reflecting both the scale of ZPC’s terminal ambitions and Weihua’s engineering capability.
Dispatch Ceremony — November 26, 2021
A formal dispatch ceremony was held at 10:17 AM on November 26, 2021 at Weihua’s Jiangsu manufacturing base, celebrating the departure of the first three Weihua automated quay cranes for Yushan Island. Senior leaders from both organizations attended:
- Long Hongxin — President, Weihua Shares
- Zhou Xianghong — Vice President, Zhejiang Petrochemical
- Jiang Youming — Project Manager, Zhejiang Petrochemical
- Sun Xiaowei — Chief Engineer, Weihua Port Machinery Division
- Wu Feisheng — Deputy General Manager, Weihua Port Machinery Division
- Wang Lei — Regional Sales Director, Weihua Shares
The ceremony was hosted by Hou Wensheng, General Manager, Weihua Port Machinery Division.
Three remote-controlled automated quay cranes stood in formation on the base, each representing the largest single-unit port machinery product Weihua has ever dispatched — a visual testament to the scale and ambition of this smart port project.
“The successful shipment of this project proves that choosing to partner with Weihua was the right decision. From our very first collaboration, we recognized Weihua’s commitment to integrity and quality. After multiple joint projects, we have gained even greater confidence in Weihua’s capabilities, and we look forward to many more partnerships in the future.”
— Zhou Xianghong, Vice President, Zhejiang Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Background & Project Significance
China’s smart port sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by demands for higher throughput, reduced labor dependency, and integrated digital management. Against this backdrop, Zhejiang Petrochemical selected the Weihua automated quay crane as the cornerstone of its Yushan Island smart terminal — a decision that reflects both the product’s technical maturity and Weihua’s track record in delivering complex port machinery solutions.
This deployment is among the few instances of a fully remote-controlled automated quay crane — or automated STS crane — being commissioned at a Chinese petrochemical terminal, making it a reference project for the domestic smart port industry.
Chief Engineer Sun Xiaowei noted that this Weihua automated quay crane was engineered specifically for ZPC’s operational profile: high lifting capacity combined with a compact rail gauge, long front outreach, fast hoisting and travel speeds, and strict energy-efficiency requirements — engineering challenges that define the next generation of STS crane design.
Core Technology & Automation Features of the Weihua Automated Quay Crane
Each Weihua automated quay crane (STS crane) in this project is equipped with eight integrated technology modules, forming a complete intelligent crane ecosystem:
1. Fiber Optic Transmission
The backbone of real-time remote-controlled automated quay crane operations — high-speed, low-latency fiber links ensure uninterrupted data flow between the crane and the central control room.
2. Laser Scanning System
3D laser scanners map container profiles and detect obstacles in real time, enabling the Weihua automated quay crane to operate safely and precisely even under variable vessel and weather conditions.
3. CNC Control Console
A numerical control operation console gives operators precise, programmable command over all crane axes — a key differentiator of the Weihua automated quay crane versus conventional STS cranes.
4. Electronic Anti-Sway System
Weihua’s proprietary active anti-sway algorithm suppresses spreader oscillation during high-speed cycles, maintaining accuracy and protecting cargo — essential for any high-performance remote-controlled automated quay crane.
5. Automated Container Alignment
Automatic spreader-to-container alignment reduces cycle time and eliminates manual correction, enabling the Weihua automated quay crane to sustain consistently high box rates across extended operations.
6. Container Number Recognition (OCR)
Optical character recognition automatically reads and logs container IDs during loading and unloading, feeding data directly into the terminal management system.
7. Truck Chassis Positioning & Anti-Lift Protection
An integrated sensor system detects and positions inbound trucks beneath the STS crane, with an active anti-lift lock preventing accidental vehicle elevation — a critical safety feature for mixed-automation terminal environments.
8. Weihua Intelligent Remote Management System
O Weihua Intelligent Remote Management System is the operational nerve centre of every Weihua automated quay crane. It provides:
- Real-time operational data collection and analytics
- Equipment condition monitoring and predictive maintenance alerts
- Automated fault diagnosis and remote troubleshooting support
- Historical performance reporting for terminal management
This system dramatically improves the long-term stability, availability, and safety of each remote-controlled automated quay crane in the fleet.
CMS Integration: One Operator, Multiple STS Cranes
Perhaps the most impactful operational benefit of the Weihua automated quay crane is its native integration with the terminal’s Container Management System (CMS). A single operator in the central control room can simultaneously monitor and control multiple automated STS cranes, reducing staffing requirements and improving responsiveness across the terminal.
Logistics & Delivery: Transporting an Oversized STS Crane
Moving six full-size Weihua automated quay cranes from Jiangsu to Yushan Island required a precision logistics plan. Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT) vehicles were used throughout, employing a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) method:
- At the Jiangsu base, each remote-controlled automated quay crane was staged in reverse departure sequence and rotated to align with the vessel’s RoRo ramp.
- Units were driven aboard the transport vessel under their own transporter power — avoiding heavy crane lifts that could stress the structure.
- On arrival at Yushan Island, each Weihua automated quay crane was rolled directly off the vessel and onto the ZPC terminal’s operational STS crane rail tracks, ready for installation.
This approach minimized handling risk, preserved structural integrity, and streamlined the transition from factory to operational status.
Client Testimonial
“This is a specially customized product. The smooth delivery of these Weihua automated quay cranes is a direct result of the hard work from the entire Weihua project team. Working with Weihua, we experienced a company culture built on integrity and quality. We are very optimistic about our continued cooperation.”
— Zhou Xianghong, Vice President, Zhejiang Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Weihua’s Smart Port R&D: The Foundation Behind the Automated Quay Crane
O Weihua automated quay crane is the product of decades of focused R&D investment. Weihua Shares operates dedicated research institutions supporting its port machinery division:
- Wuhan Port Machinery Research Institute
- Beijing Intelligent Control Systems Research Institute
- Academician Workstation & Postdoctoral Research Workstation
Weihua holds over 100 patents in port machinery and bulk material handling. This IP base underpins every remote-controlled automated quay crane and STS crane the company engineers — enabling continuous refinement of automation algorithms, structural design, and safety systems.
Weihua Port Machinery Division’s strategic mission is to provide ports and terminals worldwide with integrated intelligent solutions covering container handling, bulk cargo, and break-bulk operations — with the Weihua automated quay crane as its flagship product.
Conclusion: A Milestone for the Weihua Automated Quay Crane
The November 2021 delivery of three Weihua automated quay cranes to Zhejiang Petrochemical’s Yushan Island terminal marks a turning point — not only for Henan Weihua, but for China’s smart port machinery sector as a whole.
This project proves that a domestically engineered remote-controlled automated quay crane can meet the most demanding STS crane specifications: extreme dimensions, high throughput, full remote operation, and seamless CMS integration. With the remaining three Weihua automated quay cranes still to be delivered, and an expanding order book of intelligent port projects, Weihua Shares is firmly established as China’s premier developer of automated STS cranes for the next generation of smart terminals.
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