Sennebogen 850 G Hybrid joins Société Gras port fleet

A 21-metre hybrid material handler takes over quayside duty for Société Gras in northern France

Société Gras moves around one million tonnes of cargo a year, most of it bulk arriving by water. To keep up with rising quayside demand the French operator has added a Sennebogen 850 G Hybrid, running since 2025.

A logistics business built around waterways

Société Gras is based at Beugny in the Pas-de-Calais and was set up around twenty years ago by Maximilien Gras. The firm employs roughly 20 people and specialises in organising logistics chains that combine road and inland waterway transport. Bulk cargo is the mainstay, but palletised goods and industrial products also pass through the company’s hands, which puts a wide spread of demands on the handling equipment.

The 850 G is a grab-equipped material handler rather than a hook-duty crane, and it is the type of machine that does the bulk of the loading and discharging work at smaller inland and coastal terminals. Its job at Société Gras is to keep barges and lorries moving without interruption.

Reach where it counts

The 850 G Hybrid works with a reach of up to 21 metres, which is enough to cover the width of an inland vessel’s hold and reach the far corners without repositioning the machine. Sennebogen’s Green Hybrid system recovers part of the energy released when the boom is lowered and returns it on the next lift; the manufacturer puts the resulting cut in fuel consumption at around 30 per cent.

“The material handler is exactly what we need to work efficiently and cost-effectively. It allows us to offer our customers a reliable service whilst providing our operators with a well-designed piece of equipment.”

— Maximilien Gras, founder, Société Gras

A fleet standardised on one brand

Société Gras has bought predominantly Sennebogen machines for years. Around 15 material handlers in the 50 to 70-tonne class are now in service. The operator cites the robustness of the structures, the load capacity and the economics of the hybrid system as the reasons for staying with the brand.

Day-to-day usability matters as much as the headline figures. The SENcon control system allows operating parameters to be adapted to the operator and to the task, and work areas can be defined so the machine stays clear of quayside obstacles. The cab is set up for long shifts, and the machine’s mobility makes it straightforward to move between berths and stockpiles within the port.

Dealer support as part of the package

The machines are supplied and supported by Sygmat, Sennebogen’s French sales partner, which handles commissioning and ongoing maintenance.

“We are united by a shared understanding of efficient and sustainable handling technology. This close collaboration pays off in day-to-day operations.”

— Jérémy Sobczak, sales manager, Sygmat