Kalmar Industries has received orders for a combined four ship-to-shore (STS) cranes from Rotterdam Shortsea Terminal (RST) in the Netherlands and MSC Home Terminal, Antwerp, Belgium. These latest orders – both from repeat customers – demonstrate the value of long term relationships between terminal operator and equipment provider.

In response to continuing volume growth, RST ordered in September two wide-span monobox design STS units, both for delivery late 2008.

RST has been a regular Kalmar customer since the 1990s, initially through its relationship with Nelcon, and has, over the years, enlisted Kalmar’s services for a series of service and refurbishment work. The terminal operator already has four Kalmar STS cranes in operations, the first two of which were delivered in 1999 and the last two in 2002. Commenting on RST’s latest order, Dick Eichhorn, Sales Manager Ship-to-Shore Cranes, Kalmar Industries, says:

“RST is fully confident in Kalmar’s ability to understand its specific requirements as a short sea terminal operation. They have been consistently happy with the performance and reliability of their four existing STS cranes, as well as the service levels provided by Kalmar from its nearby office in Rotterdam.”

MSC Home Terminal has ordered a further two modular design, super post-Panamax STS cranes, both due for delivery in late 2008. The cranes will have an outreach of 24 containers, making them among the largest STS cranes in operation around the world today. The order brings the total number of STS cranes the terminal operator has ordered from Kalmar to 19.

“Short delivery time, very high reliability and availability figures, spare parts stock, and good technical support from Kalmar all contributed to MSC Home Terminal’s decision to place a further STS order with Kalmar,” explains Mr. Eichhorn.

“These orders are the proof that dedicated, long term partnerships with customers are the way to be successful in this business. It pays off to understand each others’ needs and motivations,” he says.

MSC Home Terminal STS crane parameters:

Kalmar is a global provider of container and heavy duty materials handling equipment, automation applications and related services. It is the world’s leading supplier of cargo handling equipment to ports, terminals and intermodal facilities.

Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine. The company also supplies a wide range of machines to demanding industrial customers for applications as diverse as handling steel and paper to shunting road trailers at distribution hubs.

Kalmar is also leading the way in port automation applications with its application of unmanned container handling technology, on-board smart features and remote maintenance products developed in co-operation with customers and partners.

Kalmar’s product range is complemented by a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Production plants are situated in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, China and the USA. Kalmar’s net sales were EUR 1.2 billion in 2006.

Kalmar is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world's leading provider of cargo handling solutions, which are used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centres, and ships. In 2006 Cargotec’s net sales were EUR 2.6 billion. Cargotec’s class B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.