In 2005, Port de l’Ile de la Réunion ordered 12 four-high CSC450 straddle carriers for its Port Est development, also fitted with the Smartpath system.
Kalmar Smartpath is an automation package for straddle carriers and reachstackers. The system is designed to verify and report on the location of all containers to be handled, and to save time by minimising unladen travel distances and optimising laden travel distances.
Kalmar explained: “It reduces unproductive and unplanned container moves in the terminal and also ensures that misplaced containers can be retrieved easily. Because the Smartpath container positioning system is completely integrated, it also allows the driver to fully concentrate on his job by providing him with tools such as a terminal map and by automatically exchanging container pick and place information and instructions with the yard management system.”
Meanwhile, Kalmar Industries has opened a new 1,400 sq m service and maintenance centre at Kotka Container Terminal in Mussalo, South-Eastern Finland. The centre offers technical expertise and support for port and local industries. Initially, the centre provides mainly maintenance support to the cargo handling and stevedoring company Finnsteve. This covers its fleet of straddle carriers, lift trucks, and terminal tractors at Kotka Container Terminal to ensure that it has constant access to well-functioning machines. Finnsteve started container operations at the Port of Kotka at the beginning of 2005. Kotka Container Terminal has been designed to handle 500,000 TEU per year. Various leading container feeder lines have committed to providing an almost daily service between Kotka and the major deep-sea ports of continental Europe.
