Not all things that can be found in this world are permanent. And many people know that ‘change’ is the only permanent thing that exists in our ever-changing world.
Although many people want some things to stay the same, they can’t do anything about it.
Traveling to other countries can be fun; you will see many new things. Some travel for the sole reason of taking a look at the best things in this world and enjoying the wonders of some of the most visited places. If you have been to Sweden before 2002, or are a local resident there, you may have seen the Kockums crane. It is the largest gantry crane in the world and is owned by the Germans. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems had a subsidiary company called HDW that owned the crane.
The cranes that are mostly sold or rented in the market are not as big or as tall as the Kockums crane; but its use in the construction and manufacturing industry could not be ignored. Cranes are very important machinery used to lift heavy loads of different materials.
A gantry crane is a type of crane similar to an overhead crane. The bridge that carries the cart is usually supported by two or more legs running on rails or fixed rails. Gantry cranes are also widely available in the market, and the Kockums crane is just one of them. Only now, it already exists.
The Kockums crane can be found at Kockums AB in Malmo before 2002. Since it is the largest in the world, it can lift around 1500 tons. It is 138 meters high; and popularly known as Kockumskranen. Built in 1973-1974 on top of a shipyard, this gantry crane was never really used to lift anything due to the shipyard crisis in Sweden in the late 1970s and 1980s.
In 1997, it was used for the last time to erect the tall foundation pillars of the Oresund Bridge. Unfortunately, the crane was only able to lift a certain load. But even though it was the last time he ever lifted a load, at least he was able to perform the function he was intended for in the first place.
As the crane was not used, in the 1990s the Kockums crane was sold to Burmeister & Wain, a Danish company that soon went bankrupt. Later, it was sold again to Hyundai Heavy Industries (a Korean company). He was later sent to Ulsan, South Korea. Hyundai painted the crane orange before shipping it to its manufacturing yard.
Before the Kockum crane was dismantled, the crane was actually a landmark in Sweden.
For many decades, the Kockums crane dominated the skyline of Malmo, Sweden. Many people can actually see it because it was impressively tall, wide, and heavy. After it was sold to South Korea, some say it was then sold to South Vietnam and then South Georgia. The crane was disassembled by a British company. Kockum’s Crane has a sad ending, but that is the sad truth in this world of ours. Everything must end.
Since the Kockums crane has been in Sweden for many decades, local residents only have the memory of the crane to live by. Many photos of the crane are still in circulation, and Malmo can still say that before them was the largest gantry crane in the world.