Page 112 - Rukert - 100th Anniversary

FACING PAGE: Rukert Terminals employees pose with their new team member.
BELOW: Norm Rukert, John Coulter and employees laugh after the debacle of the initial “B” berth christening. It was decided that the new crane should be used to christen the pier, but this proved tricky. During the first try, the champagne bottle bounced off
the pier bollard and eventually had to be broken by hand.
With the snow still piled high around Baltimore, Rukert management zeroed in on a crane for “B” berth. In March of 2010, Vice President Shaun Rukert and Manager of the Crane Department Joe Ey traveled to Rostock, Germany to “test drive” a Liebherr Model 500 S mobile harbor crane at the factory where it was produced. Shaun and Joe then traveled to Nenzing, Austria, headquarters of the Mobile Harbor Crane Division, to meet with top executives about the purchase. They returned to Baltimore excited about the Liebherr’s potential to elevate Rukert Terminals to a level of excellence unequaled in Baltimore.
Weighing in at over 500 metric tons, 23 stories tall and moving on 80 truck tires, the 500 S would give Rukert Terminals the flexibility to handle
bulk, break-bulk and containers more efficiently
than its other cranes. In addition, the Liebherr can handle specialized project cargo like locomotives and turbines. Though the Liebherr crane was the most expensive piece of equipment ever purchased by Rukert Terminals, the company was certain that it would open the door to new business.
Included in the purchase of the crane was training for three Crane Operators at the Liebherr Mobile Harbor Crane Division in Austria. In July 2010, Joe Ey, Tobey Godwin and Matt LaFleur received an extensive five-day training on operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of the state-of-the-art crane.
The Liebherr was delivered partially assembled by vessel to its new home on “B” berth in August
of 2010. Several Liebherr technicians spent weeks
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