Huisman enters Process Overhead Crane market with order from Tata Steel
Huisman has been awarded a first order for its newly designed Process Overhead Crane, marking a major milestone in the company’s strategy to leverage its offshore expertise and expand into markets that require advanced handling and lifting technology. The order, placed by Tata Steel IJmuiden B.V., comprises two Process Overhead Cranes, each with a capacity of 100mt and a span of 35.6 metres.

These lightweight, electrically powered cranes are engineered for heavy use under high-fatigue conditions, delivering outstanding reliability and efficiency for Tata Steel’s most critical slab handling processes. Recognising the importance of uninterrupted performance, Huisman has developed a solution that combines safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. The cranes are designed for easy access and high serviceability, allowing straightforward inspection, maintenance, and rapid interventions whenever required.
Coenraad Spaans, Director Operations at Tata Steel the Netherlands: “This renewal is essential to keeping our production process reliable, efficient, and ready for the future. The current cranes have served us very well, but modernisation is necessary. We also find it important that this project results in lower emissions. Because the cranes are electric, this is not only better for air quality, they also produce less noise.”
Huisman cooperated closely with Tata Steel through value engineering to optimise costs without compromising on quality. Drawing on decades of offshore expertise, Huisman has delivered a robust and dependable solution tailored for a demanding industrial environment. This milestone order also underscores Huisman’s strategic ambition to expand in the overhead crane market and support Europe’s transition towards green steel production.
Pieter Jacobs, Business Line Manager at Huisman said: “We are very thankful to Tata Steel for this first order and the trust placed in Huisman. As the steel industry moves towards greener processes, we are proud to contribute with technology that ensures uptime and high performance. This project marks an important step in our diversification, bringing added value to a market where reliability and efficiency are critical.”
Key features of the Huisman Process Overhead Crane
- Capacity: 100mt
- Span: 35.6 metres
- Electrically driven
- Lightweight design for optimised performance and energy use
- Designed for heavy-duty, high-fatigue operations
- Easy access and high serviceability