APM Terminals Algeciras and the University of Cádiz have come up with an innovative RTG spreader adjustment system
A Spanish patent has been granted for a method of allowing greater flexibility of the spreader of a RTG on the gantry travel axis.
It allows slight adjustments of plus/minus several centimetres to be made when securing a container without having to move the RTG itself.
Long travel "inching" is always a problem with RTGs and is practically impossible with 8-wheel machines (chain drive).
The patented “shift” devices do not affect the load capacity or maximum lift height of the RTGs, and permit faster and safer container loading.
“It has been a perfect marriage of operational experience in the yard and academic expertise in making ideas into reality,” said APM Terminals Algeciras technical department manager, Francisco Amores.
He described the collaboration, dating back to November 2006, between an APMT team of engineers led by Miguel Tavío, and Manuela Vílchez of the University of Cádiz Research Team TIC-168.
Another patented innovation developed by the Algeciras Terminal and University of Cádiz research team enables the hoist cables on the ship-to-shore gantry cranes to be replaced in six hours rather than a 24-hour long procedure, while the boom is raised, so that terminal operations of adjacent cranes are not affected.
The reduction in time for the regularly scheduled cables replacements is also a significant safety factor.
“We are very proud of the work that our joint efforts have done, and the very successful results they have produced” said APMT Algeciras' COO Laurids Uglvig. “I cannot wait to see what they will come up with next”. The combined research effort was put on temporary hold in December of 2009.
Other results of the collaboration include predictive equipment maintenance advances based upon oil analysis and infra-red scanning (both under implementation) and vibration measurement, which is still in development.
