Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaiso (TPS) in Chile and Terminal Container Athus (TCA) in Belgium have become the first container handling facilities to place orders for Kalmar’s new all-electric RTG, the E-One. The orders come within just eight weeks of the product’s launch (see Cranes Today, February, page 8).
TPS has opted for two 7+1 wide machines capable of lifting one over five containers, and featuring Kalmar’s Smartrail autosteering and container position verification system, as well as remote monitoring interface. The machines, due for delivery in November, rare said to represent a key step in the terminal operator’s strategy to convert to an RTG system.
TPS has also indicated that more orders will be on the way in a year or so to handle its growing container throughput, which currently stands at 360,000TEU per annum.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Terminal Container Athus (TCA) has ordered a Smartrail-equipped E-One with a 9+1 span that is capable of lifting one over three containers. The machine is to be operated in the expansion area of the Athus rail terminal. Due for delivery in autumn 2005, the TCA machine will also feature a rotating combi-spreader.
TCA has been operating a single Kalmar RTG since 1999. Its decision back then to buy Kalmar was swayed by the availability of the GPS-guided Smartrail, which facilitates driving on curved rail yards.
