Irish Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has launched a four-year research partnership between Liebherr Container Cranes, Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and Munster Technological University. The project will develop and expand Liebherr’s existing systems for ‘smart cranes’ which help to safely and efficiently move millions of shipping containers around the world every day.
Innovation and development continue to be central to the company. Director of Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland, Dr Siobhán Roche, says: ‘Liebherr’s collaboration with Lero, as a world-class research partner, reflects the ambitious vision of the Irish government to deliver economic and social impact across the regions. Projects like this, which bring researchers and industry together, support mutual knowledge transfer and enhance enterprise and industry, as well as growing our talent base and furthering Ireland’s competitive edge.’
Lero researcher, Professor Joseph Walsh, based at the Munster Technological University’s Kerry campus, is leading the partnership with Killarney-headquartered Liebherr Container Cranes, where six full-time researchers will work in close partnership with Liebherr engineers on the project: Smart Systems for Next Generation Container Cranes (SmartCrane).
Walsh continues: ‘Container cranes are one of the most significant investments and operating expenses in ports and intermodal terminals worldwide. The collaboration focuses on technologies such as operational digital twins, advanced data analytics and advanced sensing systems to enhance the design, deployment and operation of cranes around the world.’
Source: Cyann Fielding, AntwerpXL 2023
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