Ports in southern Europe are responding to the growing flow of goods by increasing their handling capacity. The ports of Koper in Slovenia and Evyap in Turkey are expanding their container handling capacity with Kalmar rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes.

Cargotec's Kalmar business area has been awarded a contract to supply two E-One+ RTG cranes to Luka Koper for the expansion of the Port of Koper's container terminal in Slovenia and four E-One+ RTGs to the Evyap Port in Turkey, also for the port's expansion. The orders include Smartrail(r) autosteering and container position verification systems for the RTGs. The equipment will be delivered to Port of Koper during the third quarter of 2009 and to Evyap Port during the first quarter of 2009.

Raimo Ukkonen, Vice President, RTG business line, Kalmar Industries, said: "The Adriatic is a new market for Kalmar RTGs. The volume of container freight is growing on the Adriatic Sea as the European Union expands eastwards. Goods flows between the Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe are increasing. There's lots of potential in the region."

Luka Koper provides port and logistics services in the Port of Koper where container transport has been increasing rapidly. Luka Koper estimates they will achieve a yearly throughput of 400,000 TEU by the end of 2008.

Evyap Logistics operates the Evyap Container Terminal, situated 70 km east of the Bosphorus on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. Expansion at the terminal will increase its capacity to 615,000 TEU.

Kalmar's E-One+ RTG cranes come equipped with a low-emission diesel engine and all-electric trolley, wheel turning and spreader. This 'all-electric' concept, without the need for hydraulics, means that parts are easy to access and fewer components than ever require maintenance.

The E-One+ RTGs offer reliability and cost efficiency while also meeting the toughest environmental standards on pollution, discharges, noise, safety and working environment.