Kalmar automation tops for Norfolk Southern crane deal

Delivery is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019, said Kalmar, a unit of Cargotec, based in Helsinki.

Two pairs of Kalmar RTGs will be installed to expand capacity at NS intermodal terminals at Landers in Chicago, and Rossville in Memphis, Tenn.

The cranes will have a span of approximately 82 feet and will be equipped with Kalmar’s electro-mechanical anti-sway system and a rotating Bromma spreader. The cranes will also feature a number of Kalmar SmartPort process automation solutions for safer, faster and more efficient container handling. These include the SmartRail automated gantry steering solution and SmartStack to eliminate the problem of lost containers, as well as the SmartMap visualization tool. An optical character recognition solution will enable the cranes to automatically identify containers, while the user interface will support operators, to help streamline the stacking process, improve mobility and efficiency thought the yard, and decrease truck waiting times.

Kalmar said the SmartPower RTG uses up to 2.6 gallons less fuel per hour than most diesel RTGs on the market, thanks to its significantly smaller diesel engine and intelligent power management system.

In 2018 NS upgraded Landers to reduce the number of shifted containers, and to increase the speed of delivering the correct container to trucks. RTGs were deployed for the first time in early 2018, along with a Truck Dispatch Area (TDA), to eliminate congestion near container stacks. The railroad expected the changes to reduce average trucker dwell time for international import containers by 60%, while boosting container capacity and throughput by at least 100%.

“We are very pleased to be able to continue our collaboration with Norfolk Southern and to support them with the optimization of their intermodal operations,” said Troy Thompson, Vice President, Sales, Kalmar Americas. “The proven Kalmar SmartPower RTG provides the perfect balance between productivity and cost efficiency in a variety of container-handling applications.”

The post Kalmar automation tops for Norfolk Southern crane deal appeared first on Railway Age.

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