In Autumn 2008 Liebherr-Werk Nenzing celebrates the benchmark of the 200th LHM 400 mobile harbor crane. Since its market introduction in 1996, the LHM 400 - characterised by a max. lifting capacity of 104 tons and a max. outreach of 48 meters – established itself as the ideal handling tool up to Post-Panamax vessels. Whether it’s general cargo, containers, heavy lifts or any kind of bulk material – the LHM 400 offers its customers a valuable “one-for-all” solution with all the features of Liebherr’s highly acclaimed mobile harbor crane range.

With three deliveries in the year of introduction the LHM 400 has steadily gained market shares and in 2002 has become the bestseller within Liebherr’s range of eight different mobile harbor cranes. In the last three years an average of more than 25 delivered machines per annum could be reached.

The “anniversary machine” has been ordered by Patrick Stevedoring, Australia's largest stevedore, with origins dating back to 1919. The LHM 400, put into operation at the Port Kembla site, further improves the productivity of vessel loading and continues to expand service excellence to one of Patrick’s key customers, Bluescope Steel. The Liebherr crane has 104t lifting capacity and excellent slewing speed, which will allow the consistent double lifting of steel coils and slabs (approx. 54t lifts) and greatly increase productivity.

After signing the contract a delegation from Patrick Stevedoring visited the LHM manufacturing facilities in Nenzing, Austria and Rostock, Germany. Comments from the Patrick Project team confirmed that the correct decision was made by the Company to purchase the Liebherr mobile harbor crane when witnessing outstanding levels of service quality from the welders to the design team to produce a superior product.

At the Commissioning Ceremony in Port Kembla on Aug 26th 2008 Patrick Auto Bulk & General Division General Manager – Steven Ford commented: "The introduction of worlds best standard stevedoring equipment in the LHM 400S Mobile Harbour Crane is an important occasion for Patrick Stevedoring. This day has been some 18 months in the making and it signifies a vote of confidence by the board of Asciano our parent company in our Port Kembla team. We greatly look forward to the significant productivity and safety improvements the Liebherr crane will bring to our business as we continue to build on our stevedoring service excellence.”

Patrick Stevedoring Port Kembla, located 80 kilometres south of Sydney, is into the 6th year of contract, supplying stevedoring services to Bluescope Steel handling approx three million tons of steel cargoes per annum. In Australia, BlueScope Steel produces approx six million tons of finished and semi-finished flat steel products for Australian and International customers.