technical information and background information on reachstacker for lifting empty containers and reach stacker for lifing laden containers

 

A reachstacker is a container-handling machine / container lifter / container crane similar to a crane but at the end of the boom it has a spreader and this way it can lift 20´- 40´ empty and full containers from 10 to 45 tons up to 6 containers high in the first row . It can even load and unload containers in the second and in the third row . With the rotating spreader the driver can put the container in the right position. Reach stackers can be adapted for any lifting operations in ports, terminal and stevedoring operations such as container handling.

 

As reachstackers offer a more efficient and economical solution than any other type of container-handling machine and don´t take up too much space they are widely in operation in many ports and container terminals. Modern reach stackers have an elevating cabine in order to improve the visibility of the driver.

 

A special type of reachstacker is the intermodal reachstacker / combi reachstacker. In compare to the other type of reachstackers it has four extra arms fitted to the spreader called piggy-back. With this extra attachment and with its long wheelbase it can lift and lower laden containers together with the trailer from / onto wagons / railcars on the second rail lift.

 

This significantly reduces the time needed to load and discharge containers in most rail terminals. Like this rail operators can increase the container throughput and reduce costs through an improvement in terminal efficiency

 

They are mainly used by intermodal container operators and railway companies because they are easier to maintain and cheaper to operate than existing alternatives in intermodal operations - rail-mounted or rubber-tyred gantry cranes and straddle-carriers. They are also faster and more flexible than forklift trucks used in intermodal operations and have significant advantages over similar capacity forklifts in second and third row stacking in container parks.

 

The worlds biggest producer of reachstackers and containerhandlers is the Swedish company Kalmar  which belongs to the Partek Group. Other producers of reachstackers are SMV Konecranes , Hyster, Caterpillar container-handler , Linde Flurfördergeräte, CVS Ferrari  Belotti and Fantuzzi  , the company PPM Terex , TCM from Japan and finally two Finnish companies VALMET and SISU which have been overtaken by Kalmar.

 

technical information and background information on roro tractors , roro tugmaster, tractors 4x4 / technical information and background information on terminal tractors, tractors 4x2, terminal tugmaster

 

Roro tractors / roro tugmaster and terminal tractors / terminal tugmaster also called port tractors / port tugmaster are mainly used in ports , port terminals as well as inland terminals and on the premises of forwarding agents.

 

RoRo tractors / roro tugmaster in general have traction 4x4 in order to move cargo on rolltrailers onto the ships and unload the ships as well. RoRo tractors are equipped with a rotating seat 180° and the 5^th wheel in general has a capacity of 35- 45,0 tons and can tow between 110,0 – 140,0 tons .

 

Terminal tractors / terminal tugmaster in general have traction 4x2 as these machines do not have to perform such a heavy work as roro tractors. The fifth wheel of terminal tractors only have a capacity of 25 – 35,0 tons and can tow between 100 – 120,0 tons. Only on the demand of the customer terminal tractors have a rotating seat.

 

In order to mover rolltrailers fast the machines use an attachment called gooseneck which rapidly fits into the rolltrailer and out of the rolltrailer in order to move the next rolltrailer.

 

A company which influenced mainly the development of roro tractors and terminal tractor and tugmaster is the German company MAFI located in Tauberbischofsheim  . That is the reason why often is used the term MAFI tractor , MAFI truck, MAFI truc or MAFI trailer instead of rolltrailer.

 

Other manufacturers of tugmaster are Terberg Benshop , Kalmar, CVS Ferrari , Capacity , Ottawa Tractors .

technical information and background information on forklift trucks / heavy load forklift trucks

 

A forklift truck is a very versatile machine designed to handle all kind of solid materials such as stones, steel, paper rolls and so on . It can lift weights from 2 tons up to 52 tons with its forks.

 

Equipped with a topspreader or with a side-lift spreader it can stack empty or full 20Ž- 40Ž containers of up to 45 tons of weight full containers 4 containers high or empty containers 7 containers high. Some of the empty-container lifters can even lift two empty forty-foot containers simultaneously.

 

There are several attachments available which can be fitted to a forklift truck. For example in steel works you can often see Kalmar forklift trucks moving steels coils either with a coil ram or with forks. In paper and textile factories forklift trucks with a clamp are widely used in order to lift paper rolls and woolen bales.

 

Another type of forklift truck which can often be seen in ports and container-terminals is the RoRo forklift truck. In compare to common forklift trucks the Ro-Ro lift trucks are low built. Due to its low height and its compact construction it can drive below deck and load and unload full containers and any other type of materials from and onto ships.

 

Modern forklift trucks are very sophisticated. and dispose of a free visibility mast, non-corruptible Wet Disc Brakes and a sliding cabine for easier maintenance.

 

The worlds biggest producer of heavy forklift trucks is the Swedish company Kalmar  which belongs to the Partek Group. Other producers of heavy Diesel forklift trucks are SMV Konecranes  , Svetruck forklift-truck , Hyster , Caterpillar lift-trucks, CVS Ferrari  , Linde Flurfördergeräte e   , Still    and finally two Finnish companies VALMET and SISU which have been overtaken by Kalmar.

 

technical information and background information on roro forklift trucks

 

A roro / ro-ro forklift truck from Kalmar, SMV, Svetruck, Hyster, Caterpillar, Linde has been specially designed to operate in ships. Due to its low height it can transport and handle things and containers in ships.