The 1,000th reachstacker from Kalmar F-series was recently delivered to Gernsheimer Umschlags- und Terminalbetriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG at a ceremony October 10 in Lidhult, Sweden, home to the production of Kalmar industry-leading counterbalance container handling products. In just over four years, the F-series has become the world best-selling reachstacker.
The total global market for reachstackers is expected to continue to grow due to an increase in demand from smaller port and terminal customers. Experts continue to predict a growth in container handling as many transoceanic ports in Europe, the USA and Asia become increasingly congested.
This expansion also places strain and new demands on the infrastructure from port to final destination with more and more freight being transported along roads, railways, rivers and coastlines. Several countries are trying out new solutions, often involving rivers and railways.
The reachstacker is a flexible, cost-effective solution for quickly establishing or expanding loading terminals when streamlining infrastructure. Therefore, we believe that reachstackers will continue to enjoy solid growth for many years to come, says Per Rosengren, product line manager for reachstackers.
Advanced product development contributes to success
The total global market for reachstackers is expected to continue to grow due to an increase in demand from smaller port and terminal customers. Experts continue to predict a growth in container handling as many transoceanic ports in Europe, the USA and Asia become increasingly congested.
This expansion also places strain and new demands on the infrastructure from port to final destination with more and more freight being transported along roads, railways, rivers and coastlines. Several countries are trying out new solutions, often involving rivers and railways.
The reachstacker is a flexible, cost-effective solution for quickly establishing or expanding loading terminals when streamlining infrastructure. Therefore, we believe that reachstackers will continue to enjoy solid growth for many years to come, says Per Rosengren, product line manager for reachstackers.
Advanced product development contributes to success
“When we began developing the platform for the new F generation we thought outside the box, says Kenneth Helgesson, head of development for heavy trucks.
The result was a machine that was carefully tested before being launched on the market and fully prepared for future technical solutions.
All vital elements such as the boom and chassis underwent FEM (Finite Element Measurement) calculation during the development process, thus eliminating many teething problems at the drawing board stage. Thanks to comprehensive subsequent testing in live operation, the machine was assured uncommonly high reliability from the very first delivery.
Because the reachstacker has a redundant power and control system, exceptional dependability has been achieved. The sophisticated new hydraulic system ensures operational reliability and greater maneuverability, which in turn improves ergonomic conditions for the operator.
Ongoing product development means that any technical innovations can be introduced as they become ready for production. For instance, Kalmar has introduced RMI (Remote Machine Interface) for remote monitoring of the vehicle operating status. RMI makes it easier to discover abnormal operating conditions dramatically increasing the potential to take remedial measures at an early stage, which can save the owner large sums.
And of course it vital that we can fully support the machine at the customer site, quickly and efficiently. For machine owners, high availability is crucial to ensure a profitable operation. Quite simply, their trucks have to be up and running and spending as little time as possible in the workshop. We’ve come a long way towards achieving that goal, Kenneth Helgesson explains.
The parts required for service are delivered in batches. Along with continuous product development, this means that servicing times have now been reduced by roughly 50 percent compared to previous models. Moreover, the amount of hydraulic oil replaced in each service has decreased dramatically thanks to separate systems for brakes and load handling, thus reducing environmental impact. The reduced servicing requirement and short workshop time are major factors in the machine popularity.
Expanding production capabilities
Kalmar new factory in Shanghai will help to relieve the company resources in Europe with the capacity to manufacture reachstackers and empty container handlers for the Asian market.
The result was a machine that was carefully tested before being launched on the market and fully prepared for future technical solutions.
All vital elements such as the boom and chassis underwent FEM (Finite Element Measurement) calculation during the development process, thus eliminating many teething problems at the drawing board stage. Thanks to comprehensive subsequent testing in live operation, the machine was assured uncommonly high reliability from the very first delivery.
Because the reachstacker has a redundant power and control system, exceptional dependability has been achieved. The sophisticated new hydraulic system ensures operational reliability and greater maneuverability, which in turn improves ergonomic conditions for the operator.
Ongoing product development means that any technical innovations can be introduced as they become ready for production. For instance, Kalmar has introduced RMI (Remote Machine Interface) for remote monitoring of the vehicle operating status. RMI makes it easier to discover abnormal operating conditions dramatically increasing the potential to take remedial measures at an early stage, which can save the owner large sums.
And of course it vital that we can fully support the machine at the customer site, quickly and efficiently. For machine owners, high availability is crucial to ensure a profitable operation. Quite simply, their trucks have to be up and running and spending as little time as possible in the workshop. We’ve come a long way towards achieving that goal, Kenneth Helgesson explains.
The parts required for service are delivered in batches. Along with continuous product development, this means that servicing times have now been reduced by roughly 50 percent compared to previous models. Moreover, the amount of hydraulic oil replaced in each service has decreased dramatically thanks to separate systems for brakes and load handling, thus reducing environmental impact. The reduced servicing requirement and short workshop time are major factors in the machine popularity.
Expanding production capabilities
Kalmar new factory in Shanghai will help to relieve the company resources in Europe with the capacity to manufacture reachstackers and empty container handlers for the Asian market.
Note 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 caption for the photograph reads:
"Kalmar delivered its 1,000th F-series reachstacker in early October, just four years after the product's launch."
Kalmar is a global provider of container and heavy duty materials handling equipment, automation applications and related services. It is the world's leading supplier of cargo handling equipment to ports, terminals and intermodal facilities.
Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine. The company also supplies a wide range of machines to demanding industrial customers for applications as diverse as handling steel and paper to shunting road trailers at distribution hubs.
Kalmar is also leading the way in port automation applications with its application of unmanned container handling technology, on-board smart features and remote maintenance products developed in co-operation with customers and partners.
Kalmar's product range is complemented by a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Production plants are situated in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, China and the USA. Kalmar net sales were EUR 1,147 million in 2005.
Kalmar is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world leading provider of cargo handling solutions, which are used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centres, and ships. In 2005 Cargotec net sales exceeded EUR 2.3 billion. Cargotec class B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
For more information:
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 caption for the photograph reads:
"Kalmar delivered its 1,000th F-series reachstacker in early October, just four years after the product's launch."
Kalmar is a global provider of container and heavy duty materials handling equipment, automation applications and related services. It is the world's leading supplier of cargo handling equipment to ports, terminals and intermodal facilities.
Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine. The company also supplies a wide range of machines to demanding industrial customers for applications as diverse as handling steel and paper to shunting road trailers at distribution hubs.
Kalmar is also leading the way in port automation applications with its application of unmanned container handling technology, on-board smart features and remote maintenance products developed in co-operation with customers and partners.
Kalmar's product range is complemented by a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Production plants are situated in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, China and the USA. Kalmar net sales were EUR 1,147 million in 2005.
Kalmar is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world leading provider of cargo handling solutions, which are used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centres, and ships. In 2005 Cargotec net sales exceeded EUR 2.3 billion. Cargotec class B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
For more information: