Kalmar

Today’s container terminal is a logistic jungle, where different container handling equipment of different operators move amongst each other – partly driven by people, partly automatically. On top of that each device has its own software, through which device unit settings are updated to reflect the current situation and requirements.

Taking all equipment into account, large terminals can have up to 100,000 configurable settings and customer-specific configurations can vary greatly. So, it was easy to see that there was a clear need for centralized and comprehensive process management for all equipment.

In the demanding environment of a container terminal, defining and manually updating device settings requires a lot of time and expertise. In addition, the possibility of human error always exists – and when different devices are configured with different software, this risk increases even more. To tackle this challenge, Kalmar asked help from Vincit, with whom they have previously collaborated.

The aim of the project was to build a centralized management system that would allow all terminal configurations to be designed, validated and implemented in all types of container terminals. The flexibility requirements for the software were high, and the need for remote updating of device-specific settings increased the challenge even more. By doing so, Kalmar wanted to ensure that the terminal always operated at the best possible capacity. Even when, for example, the maximum speed or other characteristics of the equipment need to be adjusted due to varying weather conditions.

CCM (Centralized Configuration Management), created by Vincit and Kalmar, enables project-specific device and application configuration from one place. This makes configuration work faster and easier to control. All the necessary information is available clearly and centralized and can be customized according to project-specific needs.

CCM also helps to better understand the needs related to configuration and the operating conditions of customer environments. Therefore, the solution enables more accurate product design as well as easier implementation than before.