According to the company, the conventional four corner flippers are well suited for the job when there are large numbers of containers to be offloaded from a bay above deck. “However, when there is only a limited selection of containers above deck to handle, the six flat flipper design brings added flexibility [and thus productivity],” Stinis said. The six-flipper configuration is also useful for terminals handling barges where containers are stacked on the deck.

Another factor is the increasing number of terminals that want to use tandem spreaders for dual 40ft container operations under the hoist. Here six flippers are an advantage. “The two flat flippers at the corner replicate the functionality of a corner flipper if operated in tandem. Supported by two actuators instead of one,” Stinis explained.

Stinis strongly advises terminals planning tandem operations to install the six-flipper configuration regardless of what type of hoist configuration they select. “Spreaders in tandem mode require the six flat flipper configuration as the inner corner flippers can either not be used entirely or will hit each other when containers are not separated far enough.

“With a six flat flipper design, we leave the inner flippers in the upward position when positioning the spreaders on the container, and we lower the remaining flippers around the contour of the two containers. The ultra-strong Stinis actuators then position the spreader [and headblock] quickly to the right location,” Stinis explained.

Stinis is currently in the process of retrofitting five STS spreaders for a customer from a four to a six-flipper configuration. “These spreaders have been in operation for more than 10 years in a terminal in Rotterdam. The retrofit will help the terminal cater for different situations and boost the terminal’s productivity,” Stinis said.

The six-flipper configuration can also be seen on STS spreaders Stinis has recently delivered to Eurogate for its new Liebherr STS cranes at Wilhelmshaven. These are equipped with the Stinis Split Headblock for tandem 40ft operations. This is the first time Stinis has supplied Eurogate with its Split-Headblock system.

*This story first appeared in the September print issue of WorldCargo News

According to the company, the conventional four corner flippers are well suited for the job when there are large numbers of containers to be offloaded from a bay above deck. “However, when there is only a limited selection of containers above deck to handle, the six flat flipper design brings added flexibility [and thus productivity],” Stinis said. The six-flipper configuration is also useful for terminals handling barges where containers are stacked on the deck.

Another factor is the increasing number of terminals that want to use tandem spreaders for dual 40ft container operations under the hoist. Here six flippers are an advantage. “The two flat flippers at the corner replicate the functionality of a corner flipper if operated in tandem. Supported by two actuators instead of one,” Stinis explained.

Stinis strongly advises terminals planning tandem operations to install the six-flipper configuration regardless of what type of hoist configuration they select. “Spreaders in tandem mode require the six flat flipper configuration as the inner corner flippers can either not be used entirely or will hit each other when containers are not separated far enough.

“With a six flat flipper design, we leave the inner flippers in the upward position when positioning the spreaders on the container, and we lower the remaining flippers around the contour of the two containers. The ultra-strong Stinis actuators then position the spreader [and headblock] quickly to the right location,” Stinis explained.

Stinis is currently in the process of retrofitting five STS spreaders for a customer from a four to a six-flipper configuration. “These spreaders have been in operation for more than 10 years in a terminal in Rotterdam. The retrofit will help the terminal cater for different situations and boost the terminal’s productivity,” Stinis said.

The six-flipper configuration can also be seen on STS spreaders Stinis has recently delivered to Eurogate for its new Liebherr STS cranes at Wilhelmshaven. These are equipped with the Stinis Split Headblock for tandem 40ft operations. This is the first time Stinis has supplied Eurogate with its Split-Headblock system.

*This story first appeared in the September print issue of WorldCargo News