Container Straddle Carrier

Container Straddle Carrier: The globalization combined with the success of containerization has brought about tremendous increases in the transportation of containers across the world. This leads to an increasing size of container ships which causes higher demands on seaport container terminals and their equipment.

In this situation, the success of a seaport container terminal resides in a fast transshipment process with reduced costs. For these reasons, it is necessary to optimize the terminal processes.

Straddle Carrier
Container Straddle Carrier

Straddle crane

what is a container straddle carrier? A straddle carrier or straddle truck is a freight-carrying vehicle that carries its load underneath by “straddling” it, rather than carrying it on top like a conventional truck. The advantage of the straddle carrier is its ability to load and unload without the assistance of cranes or forklifts. The lifting apparatus under the carrier is operated by the driver without any outside assistance and without leaving the driver’s seat.

Straddle Carrier
Container Straddle Carrier

Container straddle carrier

The container straddle carrier is a cost-effective and flexible container handling solution. It offers complete independence and flexibility when moving containers and similar oversized products on a site.

Users can position the container wherever they require for efficient stuffing and de-stuffing. It takes just three minutes to load a container from the ground onto a vehicle and it reduces on-site congestion for a safer working environment.

It has a 35-tonne capacity and is diesel-powered with an LP gas engine option. It comes with synchronized hydraulic steering and a 2-wheel hydrostatic drive. The superelastic/solid soft tires allow for operation in harsh weather conditions.

Container straddle carrier specifications:

  • It comes with front and rear independent side shift and is suitable for all standard ISO containers.
  • It has a low-level operator cab with excellent 360º visibility from the driver position. It eliminates trailers waiting to be loaded and unloaded.
  • Optional extras include air conditioning and a fully enclosed cabin. Overall dimensions can be customized to handle non-ISO containers.
  • The Carrier has lower ground pressure when fully loaded than reach stackers or container handling forklifts, making it ideal for operations on poor, uneven surfaces like railway tracks.
Straddle Carrier
Container Straddle Carrier

Mini straddle carrier

These machines are usually quite large BUT smaller versions of straddle carriers (Mini Straddle Carriers) have been developed for end-users who need to move containers around their yard or depot. For instance, a company may produce a product for a customer and they must load that product into a container for delivery.

Container Straddle Carrier …

Nowhere near the size of the machines in port terminals, the Mini Straddle Carriers have been built specifically to work within smaller spaces to improve efficiencies and reduce reliance on transport companies. Mini Straddle Carriers are not for the ports and harbors, they are for the end-user.

Straddle Carrier
Container Straddle Carrier

Container transport service

A Mini Straddle Carrier assists the end-user to improve their efficiencies on-site by reducing reliance on a transport company and therefore improving the productivity of yard operations. A Mini Straddle Carrier in this environment allows a company to independently move containers while empty or full without a transport company’s assistance. This allows for the separation of warehousing operations and transport operations ensuring a continued and extremely efficient flow of production. Mini Straddle Carriers are not for the ports and harbors, they are for the end-user.

Straddle Carrier
Straddle Carrier

Straddle carrier operator

A straddle carrier is a vehicle for use in port terminals and intermodal yards which is used for stacking and moving containers. Straddle carrier operators pick and carry containers while straddling their load and connecting to the top lifting points via a container spreader.

These machines have the ability to stack containers up to 4 high and are capable of relatively low speeds (up to 30 km/h) with a laden container. The workers that use this machinery sit at the very top, facing the middle to see behind and in front of them. Straddle carriers can lift up to 60 tons which equals up to 2 full containers.

Straddle Carrier
Straddle Carrier

Straddle carrier specifications

Straddle carriers are by far the most simple and effective system today available in the market for different reasons. First of all, it can do all the jobs and can be easily managed by Terminal Operation Systems with great savings in software management packages.

Straddle carriers have higher flexibility compared to RTG or RMG handling systems since one can always decide to deploy the right number of units to handle, the number of containers one has to handle and they can be sent to all corners of the terminal.

What is a container straddle carrier?

They have higher productivity rates compared to terminal tractors since they can lift containers off the ground without the need of an STS operator and they can stack straight in the yard without the need of waiting for the availability of another machine (i.e. RTG or RMG).

They have higher selectivity compared to again RTGs or RMGs since they can stack up to two or three high max, and can sort out a specific container in less time due to the higher traveling speed.

Straddle Carrier
Straddle Carrier

Straddle carrier manufacturers

Container Straddle Carrier:

Combilift straddle carrier

Combilift is the largest global manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts and an acknowledged leader in long load handling solutions. More than 45,000 units have been sold in over 85 countries since Combilift was established in 1998.

The Combilift Straddle Carrier is a cost-effective and flexible container handling solution. It offers complete independence and flexibility when moving containers and similar oversized products on a site.

Konecranes straddle carrier

Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers are powered by eco-efficient diesel engines that comply with the latest applicable emissions regulations in the country of use.

Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers are known for their excellent maneuverability, high speed, and reliability. They do not need yard infrastructure, so initial investment costs are low.

They are available in different sizes, stacking containers 1-over-2 or 1-over-3, ideally suited for step-by-step enlargement of container terminals as required. They are also now available as automated versions.

Hyster straddle carrier

Hyster® is an American success story that dates to the start of the Great Depression. One customer, one truck, one solution at a time, the company grew. Before long, the legendary quality and durability of Hyster trucks earned it a reputation for toughness that spread around the world. Today, Hyster is known as a strong partner creating innovative materials handling solutions for customers around the globe.

Liebherr straddle carrier

The Liebherr straddle carrier has been designed incorporating new and innovative design features. The resulting machine delivers excellent container handling, high productivity, and reliability as well as low maintenance costs and fuel consumption.

Container Straddle Carrier

What is a straddle carrier?

A straddle carrier or straddle truck is a freight carrying vehicle that carries its load underneath by “straddling” it, rather than carrying it on top like a conventional truck. The advantage of the straddle carrier is its ability to load and unload without the assistance of cranes or forklifts.

Do you need a license for a straddle carrier?

The Straddle Carrier has no high-risk license class applied to it, but operators, however, are still required to have been formally trained in the use of the equipment by a qualified and competent person and to maintain that competency.

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