According to World Cargo News, Kalmar launched FastCharge AGV in TOC Asia in Singapore
Kalmar chose TOC Asia in Singapore to unveil its new FastCharge AGV. Capable of carrying up to 70t, it features an“eco-efficient electric power system that uses the latest in lithium ion battery technology, making it much easier and more cost-effective to maintain and operate than a comparable machine powered by lead-acid batteries”, stated Kalmar. With the FastCharge system, the AGVs can be charged on the terminal, eliminating the need for the battery exchange facility that can be seen at the first terminals to use battery AGVs in Rotterdam and Long Beach.
“Kalmar’s FastCharge technology – already available for Kalmar shuttle and straddle carriers – eliminates the need for time-consuming battery swapping, as machines can be opportunity-charged at charging stations along their working routes,” said Kalmar. “With recharging taking just a few minutes, equipment availability is maximised, with the AGVs spending more time moving containers, and less time idle. The Kalmar FastCharge AGV also features the latest in Lithium ion battery technology, as well as a regenerative energy system that stores energy from braking and makes it available for reuse.” For many years, Kalmar stayed away from AGVs, believing that the decoupling capability of its shuttle carrier system was a better solution for mega terminals. In Singapore, however, PSA is currently building the Tuas mega port, and it has different thinking when it comes to running a large transhipment terminal. Tuas is expected to require more than 2,000 AGVs when it eventually handles all of Singapore’s container traffic. PSA’s AGV purchases to date for its test site at Pasir Panjang indicate it refers passive AGVs over designs that lift the container to and from an intermediate frame. The AGVs in PSA’s test fleet use an onboard navigation system, navigation infrastructure, and remote diagnostic tools developed by Kalmar under a contract awarded in 2013. The fleet includes 18 Kalmar customized electric AGVs, which were delivered in June 2017. The Finnish firm has now brought its FastCharge option to the table.
“The Kalmar FastCharge AGV offers both greenfield and brownfield terminals an alternative solution to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, while maximize trafficing equipment availability,” said Mikko Mononen, vice president, Intelligent Horizontal transportation, Kalmar. “It complements our existing offering for horizontal transportation, and is based on our proven TLS [terminal logistics system] automation platform, which includes AGV support for terminals using the Navis N4 TOS.” In terms of IT systems, Kalmar stressed that AGV customers can choose an “integrated turnkey solution consisting of the Kalmar TLS and Navis N4 terminal operating system”, or use the Kalmar Key API, which allows integration of the Kalmar TLS and anotherTOS. PSA has its own TOS (CITOS),and it is not known whether PSA will use Kalmar’s TLS, another ECS, or an in-house system at Tuas.
Sources: World Cargo News
