Kalmar reachstackers PHOTO: CARGOTEC CORP

Venezuelan port ministry Bolivariana de Puertos SA (Bolipuertos) has ordered 54 pieces of equipment from Cargotec Corp's Kalmar division, for delivery mostly during 2011. Terms were not disclosed.

Gustavo Steinberg directs the Cargotec dealership Comercializadora Tecnaval CA in Caracas.

In fulfilling the order, Kalmar's Ljungby, Sweden plant manufactured 24 DRF450-65 reachstackers, four DRF100-54 reachstackers for empty container handling, three DCF80-45 masted empty container handlers and four DCE160-12 forklift trucks. In addition, another Kalmar plant produced 19 Ottawa 4x2 terminal tractors for Venezuela.

"We are very proud to be selected as a key supplier of equipment to Bolipuertos and to secure such a groundbreaking order," says Emilio Martinez in Doral, Florida. "As the Bolipuertos organisation expands and standardises its fleet, it is extremely pleasing that the performance of existing Kalmar equipment and the support we have provided to date has resulted in this significant deal and the continuation of our excellent working partnership."

Martinez is Kalmar division sales manager for North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

While most of the deliveries will occur in November or December, "two 16-tonne liftrucks will leave the factory by the end of December and then two by the end of January", Martinez reports.

Headquartered in Caracas, Bolipuertos oversees operations of six ports with annual cargo traffic of around one million 20 ft. (6.1 m) equivalent units (TEUs). The ports include La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Guanta, Maracaibo, El Guamache and La Ceiba.

Prior to the order, Bolipuertos ran a fleet of more than 100 reachstackers and other associated equipment, including numerous Kalmar models.

Cargotec with Tecnaval began supplying reachstackers in Venezuela around 1988 and to Bolipuertos about two years ago, Martinez says. Helsinki, Finland-based Cargotec disclosed details of the Venezuelan order on 26 October.

Kalmar has parts and logistics operations in Doral for Latin America and other US locations in New Jersey and Kansas.