Edwin Briggeman, Kalmar Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd managing director.

Kalmar Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd now has a full service team after the Durban-based Kalmar subsidiary merged with African National Engineering's (ANE) Kalmar service business.

Kalmar Industries South Africa, established this year, is now responsible for sales and service for straddle carriers, RTG cranes and terminal tractors. Kalmar's other partner, Saficon, will continue selling reach stackers and forklifts.

About 13 ANE staff will join Kalmar Industries South Africa's staff of seven.

Juhani Lukumaa, from Kalmar Container Handling, said the merger reinforced Kalmar's desire to partner with South African Port Operations (SAPO) in developing South Africa's port industry. SAPO facilities' container volume would approach three million TEU in 2006, a Kalmar statement said.

Last month, Kalmar expanded its automation product range by introducing the Fleetview fleet control system. A GPS receiver, fitted to handling equipment, translates satellite information to pinpoint the equipment's location before feeding the data to Fleetview in map-form.

A Fleetview user can monitor the equipment's activity as the map, displayed on the user's screen, shows the terminal layout and the machine's movements.