Colombian Terminal Operator Returns to Kalmar

Finnish port automation solutions provider Kalmar has been awarded a EUR 25 million (USD 27.8m) port equipment order by Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura S.A. (SPRBun) as they gear up for growth at their operations in Terminal Especializado de Contenedores de Buenaventura S.A. (TECSA) in Buenaventura, Colombia.

The delivery includes 14 Kalmar E-One2 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) and six Kalmar forklift trucks. The new equipment is set to compliment SPRBun’s existing fleet of 26 Kalmar Ottawa terminal tractors. The delivery of all units is scheduled to be completed by April 2016.

“Our decision to work with Kalmar once again is due to a number of critical factors. The quality and design of the Kalmar E-One² RTG proved to be commercially very attractive to us, and throughout our long-term relationship Kalmar has always offered us the most efficient solutions as well as spare parts supply. As we continue to grow, the possibility of adding Kalmar process automation in the future will help us to maximize productivity in our terminal,” Victor Julio Gonzalez, General Manager of SPRBun, said.

Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura S.A is the oldest port in Colombia and the main port on the Pacific Ocean with key focus of operations in container, automobile and bulk cargo handling, principally serving Bogota.

Handling a current annual volume of 380,000 TEUs, throughput is expected to increase to 850,000 TEU by 2020 as they develop their domestic operations and enter the transshipment market.