DP World Southampton has ordered 11 hybrid straddle carriers for its container terminal from Kalmar, which will also offer operator training and maintenance support.
The new agreement between the two companies comes after the last order of 12 hybrid units, which were delivered over the last year. DP World Southampton has relied on Kalmar straddle carriers since 2007 and prior to this order, the Kalmar fleet at the terminal was 71 of 79 units.
"Kalmar has been a trusted partner of ours for several years already, and their proven hybrid technology and commitment to developing eco-efficient solutions fit perfectly with DP World’s commitment to being a world leader in sustainability," said Brin Humphreys, head of engineering, DP World Southampton.
The order was booked in 2021 first quarter order intake of Kalmar's parent company, Cargotec, while the delivery of the machines is scheduled for the last quarter of the year.
DP World is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of its operations by continuously cutting energy use at its facilities and investing in designs that conserve energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions, said the terminal operator, and Kalmar hybrid straddle carriers will help contribute towards meeting this goal.
Hybrid machines also generate much less noise than their diesel counterparts, according to Kalmar, which noted that the machines delivered to DP World Southampton will have a four-high stacking capacity and a lifting capacity of 40tonnes. Additionally, the machines will feature robust mobile drives, simplified electrical systems for the upper frame and spreader, a spacious electric cabinet layout that improves maintainability, as well as LED working lights as a standard.
