Cargotec’s subsidiary Kalmar is to supply four SmartPower rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) to the US-based transportation company Norfolk Southern. The cranes are equipped with a range of process automation solutions. The units are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2019.

The RTGs will be installed to extend capacity at the company’s intermodal terminals at Landers in Chicago, Illinois and Rossville in Memphis, Tennessee. Two cranes will be installed at each terminal. The cranes will have a span of approximately 25 metres and will be equipped with Kalmar’s electro-mechanical anti-sway system and a rotating Bromma spreader.

Automation

The cranes will feature a number of process automation solutions for safer, faster and more efficient container handling. These include automated gantry steering, the SmartStack system that prevents the loss of containers as well as the Kalmar SmartMap visualisation 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, the company explained .

The companies

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

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the USA’s leading transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 23 states, serves every major container port in the east of the country and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. In addition to containers, the company is also a major transporter of coal, automotive products and industrial goods.