Kalmar SmartRead streamlines Termont's terminal operations

Termont, operating at the Port of Montréal, manages the Maisonneuve and Viau terminals, handling over 700,000 TEU of containerized cargo annually with a total capacity of one million TEU. Their fleet includes rubber-tyred gantry cranes, rail-mounted gantry cranes, front-end loaders, reachstackers and terminal tractors.

Kalmar SmartRead employs optical character recognition (OCR) technology to automatically verify container IDs during lifting operations using a durable camera system. This solution captures each container ID accurately and reports it along with container transition event information to the terminal operating system (TOS). Kalmar’s Process Automation Professional Services team will be responsible for hardware and system commissioning, TOS integration, and ongoing support after the implementation.

Since 2019, Termont has consistently chosen Kalmar's process automation technology, including the SmartLanes, SmartTruck, SmartStack, SmartLift, SmartScreen, and SmartMap solutions. These solutions have significantly enhanced operational efficiency and safety, and Termont’s latest deployment underscores their confidence in Kalmar’s SmartPort technology to drive productivity and support future growth.

Kalmar SmartPort is a comprehensive set of process automation modules designed to optimize container operations with real-time tracking, enhanced safety and regulatory compliance. The SmartPort technology suite includes various modules that can be deployed to improve operational productivity, safety, and equipment utilization rates. These modules help terminals save time, reduce costs, improve security, and comply with local regulations by providing precise tracking and management of containers, trucks, and equipment.

This collaboration between Kalmar and Termont exemplifies the commitment to leveraging advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and safety in the logistics industry. OCR reduces the need for manual data entry in container terminal operations, significantly reducing errors and improving data accuracy.

Kalmar SmartPort solutions have helped us to improve operator productivity, safety and data accuracy.

“Kalmar SmartPort solutions have helped us to improve operator productivity, safety and data accuracy," said Marc André Damico, Project Manager Automation at Termont. "The integration of the OCR solution, which turns every spreader into a smart device, offers a number of benefits, including reducing inventory exceptions such as ghost containers and floating containers, clearing liabilities for damaged containers and reducing errors.”

Following a successful pilot on a reachstacker in the first half of 2024, Termont has now decided to implement the OCR solution on 44 units in its cargo-handling equipment fleet.

“Termont is one of our most valued customers in North America, and we are thrilled to continue our collaboration," added Troy Thompson, Director, Sales and Account Management, Kalmar Americas. "Following a successful pilot on a reachstacker in the first half of 2024, Termont has now decided to implement the OCR solution on 44 units in its cargo-handling equipment fleet.”