Automation Hardware News

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, and Navis, part of Kalmar Business Area within Cargotec, have been awarded the contract to supply a state-of-the-art, fully automated intermodal terminal solution for Qube's Moorebank Logistics Park (MLP) in south-western Sydney. The order, valued at approximately EUR 80 million, includes the supply of the OneTerminal solution comprising Kalmar's automated train handling, automated yard crane and automated horizontal transportation equipment and the Navis N4 terminal operating system (TOS). It was booked into Cargotec's 2018 second quarter order intake. The manual operations at the Moorebank facility are due to commence in Q1 of 2019.

Sea Machines is bringing autonomous self-driving systems to the world of workboats. At an impressive virtual reality demonstration seen late last year and then again at a frigid, late winter visit to the Boston waterfront, the future of workboat technology became all too evident for this writer. The late George Allen, former head coach of the Washington Redskins football team perhaps said it best when he coined the phrase, “The future is now.” If so, then Michael Johnson, the founder of Sea Machines Robotics has brought that reality to the marine industry. The technology company targets the emerging market of autonomous marine vessels. That’s not some sort of futuristic vision; those capabilities are here, now.

ABB will modernize a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, installing the latest hardware and software onboard the 38 year old Pierre Radisson. As part of the complete upgrade to the ship’s power distribution system, eight new drives will also be installed. The contract includes the option to modernize the other two Coast Guard ships, Des Groseilliers and Amundsen, both of which have clocked up more than 30 years of service. By attaching sensors to onboard equipment, ABB’s expert engineers can help diagnose problems on the vessel from shore.

The recent growth of the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, with the construction of more than 20 new shipyards and efforts to modernize older shipyards, has highlighted the need for more efficient ship design and construction methods. With the increased reliance on production line automation, ship design software has become even more important. Maritime Reporter and Engineering News spoke with Mr. Bruno França,CEO of  Brazilian IT company Sincronia and ShipConstructor representative in Brazil, about the relevance of CAD based ship design software in the new Brazilian shipbuilding industry. Please tell us a little about yourself and your company (Sincronia)? My name if Bruno França, I am CEO of Sincronia.

Rolf G. Oetter, Founder and President of Albacore Research Ltd (ARL), and Dr. Oskar Lee announced the official launch of ARL Asia Pte Ltd (ARL Asia) as solutions provider and training and technical center for ARL’s ShipConstructor software in Asia. ShipConstructor is the powerful AutoCAD based 3D product-modeling software for the design and fabrication of ships and offshore structures. As Director of ARL Asia, Dr. Lee will provide CAD/CAM system integration in the Asia Pacific region for all ShipConstructor clients, with the aim to co-ordinate sales and technical support. To aid this effort, ARL Asia has enhanced its website (www.shipconstructor.com.sg) to provide full product, training and exhibit information for ShipConstructor’s Asia-based clients. “Under Dr.