Balticon makes a smart investment with two T2i terminal tractors

Founded in 1990 Balticon is now one of Poland’s biggest empty container handling and repair companies. Kalmar has been a trusted partner of Balticon for more than 25 years. The business invited Kalmar to tender when it received approval from a special European Union money fund to invest in the development of an empty container depot, as well as inland intermodal terminals.

Three out of three for Kalmar

With a requirement for different kinds of civil works and equipment, part of Balticon’s plan was to buy a reachstacker, an empty container handler and two terminal tractors. Having never sold new container handling equipment to Balticon before, Kalmar took part in each of the tenders and won all three.

“There are strict rules on how to perform tenders and one of the basic criteria was a tight delivery time of 7-8 months, which we were able to fulfill,” says Jakub Wojciechowski, Head of Sales and Service for Kalmar in Poland.

“There are strict rules on how to perform tenders and one of the basic criteria was a tight delivery time of 7-8 months, which we were able to fulfill.”

“The standards are very demanding both for the customer and for suppliers. There is a lot to comply with and the technical specification is usually rather long. Not everybody can cope with those requirements. Dealers have problems fulfilling the demands because they don't know as much as we do as an OEM supplier.”

Kalmar arranged a contract that combines the delivery of the equipment with a service agreement during the warranty to cover the reaction repair time and on-site presence.

 

Purpose-designed for safety and comfort

Safety has always been a major concern for intermodal transport, and Kalmar’s terminal tractors have a range of unique design features to ensure a safer, more comfortable working environment. One of Balticon’s key requirements was for ease of access and with two sets of doors – a standard door on the side and a sliding door at the rear – the T2i cabin is extremely ergonomic for a better operational experience.

The tractors are further enhanced by windows on all sides with slimline pillars offering 360-degree visibility, as well as reduced cabin noise, smoother gear changing, more responsive steering and braking, improved hydraulics and a limited machine speed.

Jakub explains how Kalmar’s solution-sales approach develops tailored, proven systems and is based on a wealth of experience in helping intermodal operators:

“European Union money tenders can sometimes take half a year to as much as one or two years. They need to have a technical dialogue with the supplier to collect information, what is available, what is possible, what the best solutions are. We are used to working with dozens of EU money tenders for different kinds of Kalmar equipment, and the key is to think way ahead.”

"We are used to working with dozens of EU money tenders for different kinds of Kalmar equipment, and the key is to think way ahead.”

A driving force in sustainable cargo flow

Having successfully completed the delivery phase, Kalmar will provide ongoing maintenance and service for the machines now operating at the Balticon terminal. Thanks to the purchase of the Kalmar reachstacker Balticon has expanded their offer by handling full containers and are slowly entering this market. This year, the construction of a yard with an area of approximately 1 ha for the handling and storage of full containers in the vicinity of the terminal should be completed.

Seen by customers as an industry pioneer, Kalmar is continuing to stay one step ahead by striving to produce purely electric drives for all models and types of equipment. Fully electric forklift trucks, reachstackers, straddle carriers and empty container handlers are already widely available, while an electric drivetrain is currently being developed to manufacture Kalmar’s next generation of zero-emission electric terminal tractors in the near future.