Kalmar Industries, part of Cargotec Corporation, has been awarded a contract to supply seven E-One+ rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes and 10 DRF450 reachstackers to Arshiya International Ltd, a global supply chain services company. The agreement also calls for Kalmar to provide full maintenance and operators to ensure the efficiency of Arshiya’s facilities.

Delivery of the equipment is scheduled to commence by the end of 2008. Additionally, Arshiya has agreed with Kalmar on an option for ordering a further 17 E-One+ RTGs and an unspecified number of reachstackers by 2010.

The new units from Kalmar will initially be deployed at Arshiya’s Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZ) in Mumbai and Delhi. Some of the equipment will eventually be used at three FTWZs in India and one in the Middle East, all of which are  currently on the drawing board. Arshiya will also use the machines across its seven rail terminals, which serve its own trains under a pan-India licence granted by the Indian Ministry of Railways.

Arshiya’s order is the latest testament to the Indian logistic sector’s desire to build world-class transfer operations using productive and environmentally friendly handling systems. The 1+7 wide and 1-over-6 high E-One+ RTGs will offer Arshiya the ultimate in productivity, reliability and cost efficiency while also meeting the toughest environmental standards on pollution, discharges, noise, safety and working environment. For further fuel saving and reduced emissions, Arshiya opted for cranes fitted with variable speed generator (VSG) systems. VSG systems optimise engine use by determining whether the crane needs increased power for heavy lifts or little power when idling.

Furthermore, Kalmar’s DRF-series reachstackers tackle the heaviest and most demanding applications while operating with environmentally friendly engines featuring low emissions, smooth automatic gear shift and driver controls. 

Arshiya’s all-encompassing operating and maintenance contract will see Kalmar provide preventative and breakdown maintenance, operators, engineering support, daily inspections and spare parts. The agreement exemplifies Kalmar’s commitment to ensuring operational efficiency while also offering reliable, expert service to customers investing in developing markets where it can be challenging to acquire crucial maintenance resources and technical know-how.

Arshiya International Ltd’s state-of-the-art FTWZ logistic terminals are part of the first phase of its infrastructure expansion plan to be completed over the next three years. This plan includes establishing two FTWZs in Mumbai and Delhi and developing another hub in Sohar, Oman. Arshiya will also operate pan-India container trains as well as invest in its own 150 to 200-strong trucking fleet in the Middle East, expansion of which will be an ongoing process.

Global operators know the benefits of going green
Kalmar's E-One+ RTG, re-launched one year ago, boasts further benefits in productivity, reliability and cost efficiency. The 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.