The new spreader includes generous tilting and leveling capabilities, thus saving time in the work cycle, as well as a maintenance-friendly design, which contributes to reduced downtime and increased productivity.
Reachstackers have become an excellent alternative for rail handling, according to Mikko Vuojolainen, Vice President Port Division, Kalmar Americas.
'More and more North American intermodal terminal operators are recognizing the benefits that reachstackers offer over traditional fork lift trucks. They are faster, more flexible machines, able to pick and place heavier loads across more than one rail track,' he says. 'Typically, intermodal operations require extremely high equipment availability, which not only sets high expectations for machine reliability but also for minimizing maintenance needs. Kalmar's latest generation of reachstackers and loaded container handlers feature 500-hour service intervals.'
The new spreader can handle all 8ft to 8ft 6in wide and 8ft to 9ft 6in high containers, whether 20ft or 40ft long, as well as 45ft- and 53ft-long containers with twistlocks in standard ISO position or wide twistlock position (WTP). It has a 45-ton (100,000lbs) rated lifting capacity and offers +195 degrees / -105 degrees rotation with mechanical stops and optional +/- 25 degree electrical interlock with override feature. It also incorporates a +/- 5 degree hydraulic powered pile slope with automatic leveling feature when handling side pin lift.
According to Per Rosengren, Vice President Reachstackers, Kalmar Industries, safety was a priority in the design of the new spreader.
'Great care has been taken to make the sensors gauge contact in the various lifting positions,' he explains. 'The fully variable hydraulic system allows for an optional soft landing system to be activated when the spreader is 12 inches above the container roof. Moreover, the hydraulic system has special stop valves, which maintain a precise and extremely safe clamping pressure on the container throughout the handling process.'
Kalmar has been developing reachstackers since the 1980s and today ranks as one of the world's leading manufacturers. Explains Mr. Rosengren:
'We focus on developing application-based solutions in the design of our reachstackers. An example is our long wheel-base DRF reachstacker, which can handle containers three rows deep. This has been designed with intermodal terminals in mind, where outreach, stability and heavy lifting capacity are all vital. The new intermodal spreader represents the next step in providing our important North American intermodal customers with the ultimate machine for their operations.'
