Mechanical Technology June 2015

Mechanical Technology — June 2015

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Modern transport and vehicle solutions

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t’s not all doom and gloom at the

Durban Harbour. In spite of port

congestion, deteriorating road con-

ditions, strike action and disruptive

power outages, the expansion of the

container handling capacity is good news

for KwaZulu-Natal’s logistics sector.

“Intermodal Connections’ original

investment in a 45 T container handler

has been boosted with the delivery of a

mobile container handler, variable reach

trucks, forklifts and a combination loaded

container handler and forklift truck,”

says Jo-Ann Mellon, managing direc-

tor, Intermodal Connections. “Reliable

handling equipment plays a critical role

in enabling Intermodal Connections to

honour our pledge to provide logistics

solutions at international standards.

“Many of our customers are export-

ers and importers in highly competitive

markets and require absolute reliability in

every part of the supply chain to ensure

cargo reaches its destination safely, in the

most efficient and cost effective manner.

“Cargo handling services include

the handling of unitised commodities

and break-bulk cargoes, unpacking and

repacking of containers and cross dock-

ing. A dependable freight, stock and

document management completes our

supply chain service, to and from any

destination in the world.”

The company’s carefully designed

facility – a 10 000 m², 23 m high

warehouse with 2 000 m² of open yard

area – accommodates all types of cargo,

including project cargo and out of gauge

cargo.

Freight management and logistics specialists – Intermodal

Connections – which was established a year ago just 10 km from the

Durban Port, has expanded its fleet of container handling equipment

to meet growing demand in the region for swift, safe and reliable

cargo handling.

The Mobicon mobile container handler, with a 33 T lift

capacity, has increased operational efficiency at the plant

and reduced demurrage costs for trucks waiting to be

loaded and unloaded.

Jo-Ann Mellon, Intermodal Connections’ managing

director, with a Meclift variable reach truck offloading

26 bundles of aluminium profiles.

Container handling expansion

for Durban harbour

Under-cover loading, off loading and

packing facilities enable work to continue

in all weather conditions. These ameni-

ties include truck off-loading bays and a

drive-through area that prevents truck

congestion and facilitates easy manoeu-

vrability for drivers. This facility, which

encompasses four container loading

docks, also has the capability to ground

containers.

New to the fleet is a lightweight

Mobicon mobile container handling

system, designed to efficiently lift loads

onto and off trucks in the warehouse

and to safely carry containers around

the site. The Mobicon container handler,

with a 33 t lift capacity, has increased

operational efficiency at the plant, also

reducing demurrage costs for trucks wait-

ing to be loaded and unloaded.

Two Meclift variable reach trucks are

used for swift and safe container stuff-

ing and handling, increasing efficiency

during container handling procedures.

These compact reach trucks also ensure

enhanced safety on site. Unlike con-

ventional forklift trucks, robust Meclift

machines, with a lift height of 6.0 m,

are able to drive into containers or reach

inside a container for easy loading and

unloading of cargo and equipment.

Specialised lifting attachments en-

able efficient and safe handling of paper

reels, steel coils, sheets and rebar, as

well as rolls of wire with mass of up to

15 000 kg.

The company’s fleet also includes a

Taylor TEC combination loaded container

handler and forklift truck, with a rated

container capacity of 34 927 kg. This

machine is able to efficiently cope with

three-high stacking of loaded containers.

Also in the plant are four robust forklift

trucks, with capacities up to 4.0 t.

Intermodal Connections, a level 4 con-

tributor to broad-based black economic

empowerment (B-BBEE), efficiently

handles all aspects of logistics and ship-

ments to ensure optimum efficiency of

domestic and international trade.