Kalmar boosts Port of Tacoma's intermodal operations

Kalmar Industries has won an order from the Port of Tacoma on the US West Coast for the supply of seven CSC 340 straddle carriers for the Port's on-dock intermodal rail operations. The units will be used to load and unload double stack container cars at Tacoma's extensive on-dock rail facility. Delivery of the machines is scheduled for October 2008.

The straddle carriers, which have a 40-tonne single lift capability, will be engineered to stack containers 3-high. Additionally, they will feature Kalmar's proven 7th generation technology consisting of an enhanced CAN-bus PLC diagnostics system, fly-by-wire controls and directly PLC controlled engines, and a hydrodynamic drive system.

Leif Wallin, President, Kalmar Americas, comments on the order:

"This new order further extends Kalmar's partnership with the Port of Tacoma, adding to the fleet of 26 Kalmar straddle carriers already employed at the port.

"The new machines, which will replace five older straddle carriers, are ideally suited to the demanding operating conditions found at intermodal rail terminals. Their robustness and superior visibility have combined to make the Kalmar product the most reliable workhorse at terminals around the world."

Bryon Boerner, Electronics Technology Manager at the Port of Tacoma, says: "Kalmar's straddle carriers have proved to be extremely reliable. The CSC machine has a robust frame that we feel stands up to the rough service of rail yards. Backed by excellent support from Kalmar's team in Tacoma, the straddle carriers are our labour partners' preferred machines."

Kalmar Industries has been supplying straddle carriers to the Port of Tacoma since 1986 and has built a very close working relationship with the port. This relationship has led to Kalmar and the port developing a number of industry firsts. Tacoma became the world's first on-dock rail operation using only straddle carriers, and Kalmar and the port authority jointly produced the world's first straddle carrier operator training video. As a leading operator of straddle cranes, the Port of Tacoma has trained operators from other ports across the US to work safely.

Facilities at the Port of Tacoma include four dockside intermodal rail yards, operated by Tacoma Rail, a division of Tacoma Public Utilities, and served by the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific railroads. There are also excellent highway connections and ample land available for development. Strategically located on the West Coast of North America, the port handles more than 70 percent of the marine cargo moving between the 48 lower States and Alaska.

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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. A photograph to accompany this release is also available on the Kalmar website, by clicking on Press Pictures. The caption for the photograph reads:

“The Port of Tacoma has ordered seven 7th generation Kalmar CSC 340 straddle carriers for its on-dock rail operation, further extending the two parties’ partnership spanning more than 20 years.”

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.