Eurogate has selected Kalmar to supply its container terminal in Wilhelmshaven with an automated straddle carrier system for the terminal’s STRADegy pilot project.

According to Eurogate, Kalmar, which is a member of the Cargotec Group, will supply four automated four-high straddle carriers and an emulation system for the container terminal. Both the live equipment and emulation environment will use Kalmar’s Terminal Logistics System, which allows all automated items of equipment, process automation solutions and access control, security and failure-monitoring devices to be controlled via a single platform.

Eurogate is cooperating with APM Terminals to manage the pilot project, which will be set up in an area of the terminal which is not used operationally and does not interfere with day-to-day operations. The pilot project is designed to prove that automated straddle carrier technology is fully functional, safe and ready for roll-out.

The first Kalmar vehicles will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018. The pilot project is expected to be complete at the end of the second quarter of 2019, after which the results will be made available to all project partners. Eurogate will subsequently decide whether and at which sites to deploy the automated straddle carrier system.

Mega container ships with capacities of more than 20,000 TEUs are presenting port and container operators with ever greater challenges. This requires processes to be both plannable and reliable, and calls for the implementation of digitalization and automation, according to Eurogate.