Looking to improve the speed and efficiency of its operations, Verbrugge Terminals examined box handling options which included quayside cranes and the trial of a rented mobile crane. It became clear that greater versatility was required of the pending investment and the company settled on Kalmar's new ContChamp barge handling reachstacker, which could not only load barges three rows wide and three rows high but also perform other container handling duties around the terminal including stacking, sorting and loading road and rail transport.

The ContChamp purchased by Verbrugge is the latest Generation F model and is capable of lifting 45 tonnes, although its ability to lift 28 tonne boxes at an 8m outreach from a barge's third row is perhaps more important to the terminal operators. It has a 7.5m wheelbase and hydraulic jacks at the front and a special boom extension which allows the spreader to lock onto containers in the hold that are below quay level. The machine even has cameras installed in the twistlocks because when the spreader goes below quay level the operator cannot see it.

One reason why the reachstacker works well at Verbrugge is because the terminal is in an enclosed dock/canal system and not affected by tides, allowing the machine to be used for barge work at any time. When there are no barges present, there is always other work to be found.

MJ Information No: 17839