power Hesse-Noord Natie's Schelde Terminal
Belgium Hesse-Noord Natie has ordered nine Kalmar EDRIVE ESC straddle carriers for operation in its River Schelde terminals, Quay 869 and Quay 913. This latest order calls for five ESCs with normal spreaders and four with extendable twinlift spreaders, equipped with a 50-ton capacity.
The order represents a huge vote of confidence in both Kalmar newly developed twinlift spreader technology and its ESC straddle carrier, which combines an electrical drive system with the well-proven robust construction and reliability of Kalmar established CSC straddle carrier.
Hesse-Noord Natie first bought two ESCs for testing in Quays 702-730 last year through Kalmar Belgian dealer, Bia, and has been impressed by the efficiency of the machines, which racked up a massive 800 operational hours in just the first five weeks of operation. Quay 869 already has more than 30 Kalmar straddle carriers in operation, while Quay 913 uses 17. The new order significantly boosts the number of Kalmar machines at the terminal, particularly in Quay 913, which has traditionally employed other makes of machine.
The ESCs have also been a big hit in Germany with a recent order from Hamburger Hafen- und Lagerhaus-AG for four ESC440 machines for use in its Burchardkai Terminal in Hamburg. The order includes an option for a further four ESC440 straddles.
The ESC straddle carriers have proven a great success due to environmental considerations such as low noise emissions, low fuel consumption, low maintenance and repair costs, and the use of less hydraulic oil.
Excellent reliability is also a key advantage with the Kalmar EDRIVE. With a lower centre of gravity, they offer more stability than their competitors. They also boast more engine power, 20% higher lifting speed, faster driving speed and better acceleration than competitors’ models, resulting in a 10% higher overall performance rate. Unparalleled reliability and better stability, together with higher performance, results in greater productivity, giving Kalmar customers the distinct competitive edge.
The ESC combines the solid construction of the CSC, which, with over 1,800 units sold, ranks as the most successful straddle carrier ever produced, with many of the positive features of diesel-electric drive. Reliability of the electrical systems is also assured since much of the AC technology has been drawn either from Kalmar rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes or its HS straddles. Moreover, all users of the new straddles have access to the full resources of Kalmar global servicing and parts network.
In designing this new Kalmar straddle carrier, Kalmar felt it was essential to retain the robust construction of its proven CSC model. Existing CSC operators will find that around 90% of the required spare parts inventory is common to both straddles. However, instead of using two diesel engines providing for horizontal movement via a conventional gearbox and chain-drive system, the wheels of the Kalmar EDRIVE are driven by two 132kW electric motors, one mounted in each side frame. For hoisting though, the Smoothlift hydraulic rope hoist system is retained.
A single Scania 336kW diesel engine operating at constant speed powers a generator that produces electricity for the drive motors.
Ilkka Annala, Vice President Straddle Carriers, Kalmar Container Handling, explains the significance of a diesel engine operating at constant speed:
"Combined with a stepless AC electrical drive system, the ECS is very smooth and flexible in operation. This makes for a more attractive driver environment, which, in turn, inevitably results in better driver performance. It has better acceleration too which leads to higher productivity."
Meanwhile, the significance of the twinlift spreader is its ability to mirror the handling efficiency of terminal ship-to-shore cranes. A ship-to-shore crane can lower two full 20ft containers 1.5m apart from each other on the quayside with its extendable twinlift spreader before swinging back to the ship to collect more cargo. However, the traditional straddle carrier twinlift spreader can only pick up one of these boxes at a time. The breakthrough was finally achieved when Bromma developed an extendable full twinlift spreader, designed especially for straddle carriers and equipped with a 50-ton capacity.
At present there are five CSCs with twinlift spreaders significantly lifting productivity at Hesse-Noord Natie largest terminal.
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The caption for the photograph reads:
"Kalmar straddle carrier presence at Hesse-Noord Natie River Schelde terminals has been boosted by an order for a further nine EDRIVE models."
Kalmar is a global provider of heavy duty materials handling equipment and services to ports, intermodal traffic, terminals and demanding industrial customers. Kalmar focuses on supplying handling solutions that enable customers to operate with a high level of efficiency and reliability. Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine.
Kalmar provides a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Manufacturing plants are situated in Sweden (as is the head office), in Finland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Malaysia, China and the USA.
More information:aija.kalander@kalmarind.com