 With 40 new orders for its straddle carriers, TPS has strengthened its market position. |
Terex Port Solutions (TPS) boasts that its straddle carriers are in global demand after receiving orders for 40 diesel-electric powered Terex units from large terminal operators.
"Our machines have established themselves in the market with their reliability and performance," says managing director Guido Luini. "They are also well-known for their modern diesel-electric drive concept, which provides economical operation with low pollutant and noise emissions."
Belgian terminal operator PSA Antwerp NV (PSA) has ordered 11 Terex NSC 634 E straddle carriers. From March 2014, these units will supplement the existing fleet in PSA's various terminals in the Port of Antwerp.
The new vehicles will be fitted with custom equipment, including swiveling driver seats for improved ergonomics and other technical modifications to help PSA reduce maintenance costs and to provide secure operation.
Another order for four Terex NSC 634 E and three Terex NSC 644 E straddle carriers will be going to the terminal operator MSC Home Terminal, a joint venture of PSA and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's second largest shipping line.
The vehicles will be customised with complete hardware and software for seamless integration into the existing operational infrastructure. This includes camera systems for exact positioning under the ship-to-shore cranes and interface modules for wireless operating data acquisition and remote servicing.
In the last few months, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), a division of the state-owned South African logistics group Transnet SOC Ltd, placed follow-up orders for a total of 22 Terex NSC 644 E straddle carriers.
TPT operates terminals in seven South African ports, including Durban, where 28 straddle carriers from TPS have been operating since 2012.
As the port is expanded, the existing fleet in Durban is growing, with 18 new machines, 13 of which were delivered recently, with the rest following in April 2014. Four more machines were also ordered for the container terminal in Cape Town, for delivery in February 2014.
TPS has had successful customer relations with the three operators for many years; supplying straddle carriers, and maintenance and support services.
"That is a win-win situation for both sides," Luini says. "We are constantly learning from the operators of our machines, so we can work continuously on their further development and adapt them to the markets of the future."
The new Terex straddle carriers for PSA and MSC Home Terminal have a load capacity of 50 T, while those for TPT can carry up to 65 T. The Terex NSC 644 E straddle carrier can stack 1-over-3 containers, while the Terex NSC 634 E straddle carrier can stack 1-over-2 containers.
Terex Port Solutions is part of the Material Handling & Port Solutions business segment of Terex Corporation that supplies customers in ports with machines, software and services under the Terex and Terex Gottwald brands.