Kalmar, a part of Cargotec, and Forterra (formerly known as RRAI) have entered a collaborative agreement to develop autonomous solutions for terminal tractors.
Under this agreement, Kalmar will lead the development of an automation-ready terminal tractor, incorporating drive-by-wire technology and integrating it with the Kalmar One fleet management system for the streamlined operation of automated tractor fleets.
"This agreement brings together our vast experience in developing world-class autonomous systems and Kalmar’s extensive experience in port and terminal automation with their market-leading terminal tractor product. We believe AutoDrive is the best platform to create a compelling new offering for the container and trailer-handling market," stated Josh Araujo, CEO of Forterra.
Forterra, renowned for its expertise in autonomous systems for ground-based movement, will contribute its AutoDrive platform to enable autonomous operations for the terminal tractor.
With a track record of providing autonomous solutions for various sectors, including defence and off-highway commercial applications, Forterra's AutoDrive system stands out as a leading solution for complex environments such as ports and logistics centers.
"We believe that there is huge potential in automating terminal tractors in terms of safety and productivity. This development agreement is the next exciting step in our innovation journey after the successful Kalmar RoboTractor pilot done in Norway. Now we will leverage our extensive experience in straddle carrier automation, which has been adopted by a number of leading container terminals around the world," mentioned Juuso Kanner, vice president of Automation Business Line at Kalmar.
