Cf Technologies Pty Ltd

CF Technologies have developed an innovative solution to address the following challenges in the handling of shipping containers at port areas: 1. Fast unloading and loading cycles of ships result in containers not being distributed optimally in the stacks, and they often have to be moved on subsequent occasions. Overall, lack of space in container port areas restricting or delaying throughput of ships. Issues of identifying and locating containers result in trains departing on average 30% empty, containers not being loaded onto departing ships and delays in departing road haulage. Lack of road capacity loading to ports and congestion around the port area. Selection of sites for new ports limited by the requirement to include vast areas for storage and manoeuvrability. Many existing port facilities are stressed due to tight constraints that limit expansion of the land-side footprint. The CFT solution involves a seemingly simple approach of temporarily attaching wheels to shipping containers and transforming them into vehicles. These vehicles can travel directly from ship-side to a distribution site where there is greater flexibility and ample time to ensure containers can be optimally stacked and managed. In addition, part of the technology involves a modification for standard ship-to-shore gantries that promises to reduce container transfer times by around 20%.