Flurry of global equipment orders

Finland based Cargotec has secured an order for 14 Kalmar straddle carriers from UK based Forth Ports, owner of Port of Tilbury. The multi million pound order is part of a major investment plan for its London Container Terminal (LCT), following the £95m acquisition of Tilbury Container Services. Cargotec will deliver the four machines to the port in April 2013.

Perry Glading, chief operating officer, Forth Ports, said: “We have put in place a significant investment plan for the London Container Terminal, which will see the continued upgrading of the site and its equipment as we work to integrate container handling across both the deep sea and short sea operations at Tilbury. The acquisition has further secured Tilbury as a key shipping and distribution location with unrivalled access to London and the South East of England.”

Elsewhere, Finland’s Konecranes has received an order from the Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), owner of the new Khalifa Port. The order has been secured following the successful delivery of a complete automated container yard system including 30 Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs). A further 12 ASCs will be delivered to the port in late Q4 2013 and Q1 2014.

USA based Taylor Machine Works has developed a new series of container handlers to be distributed in South Africa by handling specialists, Big Lift Trucks (BLT). The new TXLC series has been designed with an expandable, suspended type attachment, increased leg and head room, a tilt steering wheel and a T shaped flip down dashboard.