New equipment doubles yard capacity

There has been a big move in the container handling capabilities of Durban-based logistics specialists Sammar Investments – with the acquisition of a Hyster reach stacker and a seventon counterbalanced lift truck from Barloworld Handling. The RS45-31CH reach stacker handles loaded containers while the Fortens is used for empty containers. “The reach stacker in particular has increased productivity all round,” said Sammar MD Malcolm Sodalay. The new equipment replaces a 35-ton gantry crane for stacking full containers – which limited the 10 000 m2 yard to a 300-container capacity. “With the high stacking density achieved with the reach stacker, land can be used much more productively,” Sodalay added. Using the terminal’s estimated 5000 m2 of level ground, and using the machine to stack three rows – staggered five-, four- and threehigh – as is Sammar’s intention, this would give the yard a theoretical capacity of 624-TEUs, according to Gerhard van Niekerk, national big truck sales manager for Barloworld. “Using a block all of five-high,” he added, “the total would be 780 TEUs.”