New name in yard cranes: BVS secures contract with DB

BVS Cranes, the largest crane manufacturer in Türkiye, has secured an important contract with Deutsche Bahn (DB) to manufacture four RMGs for DB’s terminals in Germany.

This project marks BVS Cranes’ inaugural crane sale to DB, a notable shift from its previous role in crane servicing. The cranes are RMGs with a rotating trolley and lifting capacity of 41 tonnes and will be deployed at DB terminals in Kornwestheim near Stuttgart and Augsburg near Munich.

Based in Ankara, Türkiye, BVS Cranes operates three main manufacturing facilities encompassing a total area of 100,000 square meters. The company’s main market is the steel industry, but it is also active in the port sector, offering gantry cranes, ship loaders, hoppers, and mobile ship loaders.

Speaking to WorldCargo News at TOC Europe held in June in Rotterdam, Akin Önder Topuz, Business Development & Marketing Manager of BVS Cranes, said that the company has already completed the design work and started manufacturing the cranes, with delivery scheduled for 2025.

“These cranes are pivotal in terminal operations, requiring exceptional speed and reliability,” Önder said. “And our customer is very demanding, which can be hard, but at the same time very interesting for us.”

Going international

The company is working on expanding beyond Turkish borders and growing its international business portfolio. BVS is currently exporting to 93 countries and six continents.

“Our cranes are used in different parts of the world for different purposes, including nuclear power plants and power stations,” Önder said.

The European market is a main focus and he is optimistic the contract with DB will open opportunities. “We believe this container crane order, will be an important step forward to attract more customers in the future,” he added.

In the service area, BVS Cranes recently celebrated the opening of a new facility in Duisburg, near Dusseldorf, Germany. The new facility will provide crane service, modernisation, and 24/7 support, for both BVS and other brand cranes. Additionally, BVS has established a branch in Switzerland and maintains over 30 distributors and service providers, primarily in Europe.

Sustainability focus

As well as building up a diversified portfolio of cranes and customers in different industrial markets, BVS Cranes is working to improve its own sustainability performance. The company has installed solar panels on all three of its factories, which will cover almost all their energy production needs,  Önder said.

This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions, aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainability as it approaches its 40th anniversary next year.

BVS arrives in the container crane market at a time when terminals, particularly in the inland and rail terminal sector, are looking to increase the number of options in terms of ‘local’ suppliers.

“At TOC, we had very good talks with a few steel manufacturers, although this is not a steel industry exhibition. So, we are expecting something big on that side, on the European scene,” Önder said. “Also, we have very good talks with the port operators and terminals all around the world, including the Netherlands and even Qatar and the Middle East.”

Akin Önder Topuz, Business Development & Marketing Manager of BVS Cranes at TOC Europe, June 2024

Lead times

BVS is now listed on the Istanbul Bursa after completing an Initial Public offering (IPO) in February 2023. Önder said the listing had helped generate more confidence in the company.

“When I speak to my foreign and European customers or potential customers, it takes their attention. The financial transparency and continuous reporting of financial figures to the public especially brings additional confidence to your customers. Last year we had more orders from Europe, including from Norway. Furthermore, we have added Mexico, and Chile to the list of exporting countries.”

Australia, despite its distance, has also become a key market for BVS Cranes, particularly in the mining industry. In the European market, BVS sees an opportunity to benefit from long lead times from OEMs that traditionally serve the port sector. Önder explained that BVS is aware of the workloads of its competitors and sees the current boom in investments in Europe, and new greenfield projects globally, as a chance to expand its presence in the container crane, dock crane, and ship loader markets. BVS is also benefitting from the ‘regionalisation’ of procurement that is taking place.

Therefore, BVS anticipates increased international business, not only in Europe but also in North and South America and Northern Africa.

Taking a share

BVS Cranes is highly optimistic about its potential in the container crane market. Önder emphasised that the company will not be making commitments it cannot fulfil, but at the same time, the company has significant production capacity to respond to new opportunities.

“I think we are going to take an important piece of the cake in the coming years,” he concluded.