ECT Stacks Up its 100th Automatic Crane

This latest delivery of 12 machines takes the total number of ASCs supplied to the terminal to 103.

Fed at one end by automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) working between the container stack and the quayside, and at the other end by straddle carriers working between the stack and the truck/multi-trailer drop-off/ pick-up point, ASCs at ECT’s Delta Terminal are used predominantly to stack and reshuffle containers.

While initial prototypes of the ASC, developed by Kalmar (then Nelcon), were only able to stack one over two high, the machine has since been refined and newer models have been one over three and one over four high machines.

The 12 machines recently delivered are six wide and one over four high. To increase stacking density further, the oldest one over two high machines have also had their lifting height increased, enabling them to now lift one over three high.

As fully automated machines (they are controlled by onboard computers linked to the yard management system) ASCs are exceptionally useful, particularly in ports and terminals where there is shortage of skilled labour, high labour costs, or where there is a high container throughput 24/7. Their capability to perform unmanned yard operations throughout the night, preparing stacks for the following day’s operations, is valuable.

Working either on their own or in tandem with one another on the same track (dependent on the length and width of the stack), ASCs are designed to perform up to 30 moves per hour. They have a maximum travel speed of 240m per minute, a trolley speed of 48m per minute and a hoisting speed of 36m per minute for loaded containers.

MJ Information No: 17452