Kalmar launches the world's first straddle carrier featuring hybrid technology

Kalmar Industries, part of Cargotec Corporation, continues to enhance its range of eco-friendly products and strengthen its reputation as an industry pioneer with the introduction of the world's first straddle carrier equipped with a hybrid drive system. The company's new Pro Future™ hybrid technology package is a modular option which can be fitted to its proven 7th generation Kalmar ESC W straddle carrier for genuine fuel savings of up to 25 to 30 per cent.

Kalmar's EDRIVE® straddle carriers are currently used throughout the world's container terminals. The new hybrid ESC W straddle carrier will significantly improve the machine's cost per box efficiency by delivering more moves with less fuel. Units equipped with the hybrid package will carry Kalmar's Pro Future™ green and white logo, further emphasising its green credentials to customers and stakeholders.

Ilkka Annala, Vice President, Straddle Carrier product line, comments:

"The cyclical operation of straddle carriers in container terminals is the foundation upon why hybrid technology lends such good results in a straddle carrier handling system. This type of operation is very transient and has suitable positive and negative energy peaks that can be utilised to save fuel.

"Genuine reductions in energy use also mean genuine environmental protection, as the emissions of harmful greenhouse gases, such as CO2, are reduced considerably. On an annual level, more than 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions per straddle carrier can be eliminated while employing hybrid technology."

Kalmar's Pro Future™ hybrid technology package allows hoist motors to be used as generators when lowering containers. The energy produced can be stored until it's needed. Similarly, when machines are braking or decelerating, energy can be produced from the electric drive system and stored. The machine's supercapacitor energy storage system draws on the saved energy before making further demands on the diesel engine for movement or lifting, thereby drastically reducing fuel consumption and emissions. An in-cab display shows the machine's energy flow, thus the driving style can be further fine-tuned to make the most efficient use of the straddle carrier.

The Pro Future™ hybrid technology package includes a supercapacitor energy storage system and a VSG (Variable Speed Generator) diesel-generator package with temperature-controlled fan technology. The VSG system optimises engine use by determining whether high or low engine power is needed, further reducing both energy consumption and pollution.

Applying various stages of the Pro Future™ hybrid technology package to future ESC W models is also a possibility. Operators can use this most imminent technology on the platform of Kalmar's proven and tested 7th generation ECS W straddle carrier without unnecessarily risking lower reliability or availability. This presents terminal operators with greater flexibility in their on-going quest to achieve superior dependability and performance by deploying the most economical methods and meeting increasingly stringent environmental requirements.

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Notes to editor:

Press information can be found on Kalmar's website: www.kalmarind.com. Simply click on News Room to be taken to a list of recent press releases. Photographs to accompany this release are also available on the Kalmar website, by clicking on Press Pictures. The caption for the photographs reads:

"Kalmar, the world's leading supplier of straddle carriers and the frontrunner in developing eco-friendly solutions, is the first manufacturer to offer straddle carriers equipped with hybrid technology."

Kalmar is a global provider of container and heavy duty materials handling equipment, automation applications and related services. It is the world's leading supplier of cargo handling equipment to ports, terminals and intermodal facilities.

Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine. The company also supplies a wide range of machines to demanding industrial customers for applications as diverse as handling steel and paper to shunting road trailers at distribution hubs.

Kalmar is also leading the way in port automation applications with its application of unmanned container handling technology, on-board smart features and remote maintenance products developed in co-operation with customers and partners.

Kalmar's product range is complemented by a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Production plants are situated in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, China and the USA. Kalmar's net sales were EUR 1.343 billion in 2007.

Kalmar is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world's leading provider of cargo handling solutions, which are used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centres, and ships. In 2007, Cargotec's net sales were EUR 3.018 billion. Cargotec's class B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.