Kalmar makes light work of Walkers´snacks
Kalmar´s new ST122 terminal tractor is proving an instant hit in the UK with Walkers Snack Foods, the UK leading manufacturer of snacks. In October, Walkers took delivery of its tenth Kalmar tractor and just two days later, placed an order for an eleventh.
As distribution centres grow in size, demand for Kalmar specialised tractor units for shunting semi-trailers around large manufacturing and distribution centres is growing.
Responding to this demand, Kalmar has launched its latest generation ST122 terminal tractor, which is one of the latest examples of Kalmar application-based models for efficient distribution operations. An ideal practical example is the smooth, even rear-deck on the ST122 which features wide and safe stairways on both sides. This feature is useful for distribution operations, as drivers need to make air and electrical connections for every trailer.
Kalmar Sales Manager, Richard ap Simon, confirms that the Kalmar design has aroused the interest of not only large manufacturers like Walkers but also of the major retailers:
“The UK stands out in Europe in that retailing is concentrated in the hands of just a few large groups. These companies have developed networks of large regional distribution centres throughout the country and their operations are ideally suited to terminal tractor applications. This is particularly true given that the UK is also heavily committed to the use of semi-trailers whereas in mainland Europe, there are far more companies using drawbars and demountable systems.
Dave Parkes is Fleet Engineer for PepsiCo UK & Ireland and oversees a transport fleet comprising 220 road-going tractors, 50 rigids and drawbars, and 580 trailers. He comments:
Prior to 1999, Walkers used retired road-going tractors for shunting but they were much slower and more prone to mechanical failure. With a purpose-designed terminal tractor, the operation is much faster. The driver just walks out of the rear door to connect or disconnect the lines and he doesn’t have to wind the trailer legs up or down. The Kalmar units offer greater acceleration too as they have automatic gearboxes; the gearboxes and clutches of road-going tractor units are simply not designed for constant stop-start forward and reversing operations.
“Only in smaller depots where you would not have a sufficiently high utilisation factor to justify a terminal tractor, can you seriously consider staying with the old ways. As Walkers has grown, so have its factories. We appreciate the way in which our Kalmars have contributed to our higher levels of productivity and efficiency.
The ST122 is powered by a six-cylinder Cummins QSB 5.9 litre electronic diesel engine developing 129kW/173bhp @ 2200rpm and 800Nm torque @ 1500rpm. An Allison MD3060 electronic transmission and converter provides four forward speeds and one reverse with automatic upshifting and downshifting. The fifth wheel can be raised 610mm and its turning radius is just 6.58m wall to wall.
Notes to editors:
Press information can be found on Kalmar website www.kalmarind.com. Simply click on News Room to be taken to a list of recent press releases or on Press Pictures to be taken to the Kalmar photo gallery.
The captions for the photographs read:
"As the size of such facilities increases year on year, demand for Kalmar's specialised tractor units for shunting semi-trailers around large manufacturing and distribution centres is growing rapidly. Walkers Snack Foods, the UK's leading manufacturer of snacks, took delivery of its tenth Kalmar tractor in October and just two days later, placed an order for an eleventh."
“The new ST122 Kalmar design has aroused the interest of not only large manufacturers like Walkers but also of the major retailers. Here, Kalmar Sales Manager, Richard ap Simon (on the left), is seen discussing certain details of the new tractor with Dave Parkes, Fleet Engineer for PepsiCo UK & Ireland."
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.