We have several big developments going
on, one of the developments of course is the
recent opening of the automated
terminals, where we're basically showing
what we can do with automation. In those
terminals we provide the entire system to control the
fleet of AGVs the automated stacking cranes as well as the controls for the automated quay cranes. So a
big milestone for TBA where we take
another step in automation in terms of
ability to perform and we expect a big
step up in performance in the coming years.
Our Intelligent App platform has been released recently and already it's quite
successful with our customers adding
value on top of terminal operating
systems
filling little gaps, providing additional
functionality in terms of safety,
operational efficiency; one example is
our Chimney App.
Chimney stacks is actually a widely spread
problem in the terminal world. basically
isolated stacks, which are easy to tumble
over potentially cause unsafe situations, or even
injuries, or even worse, and we developed an app on top of the Navis N4 platform to basically
avoid chimney stacks completely and we are doing a pilot project with a large
terminal operator and we'll go live soon
with that. The final things that we are
demonstrating here is of course our
training game where we are marrying
gamification as a way a to train people that
fulfill a role outdoor at a terminal.
Think of reefer mechanics, AGV mechanics, but also twistlock handlers, etc
Allowing them to train in a very
realistic 3D environment, interacting
with a live operation and also playing
games with the control room people in
the loop, so they are sitting behind their
normal screens operating a virtual
terminal and practicing
standard operating procedures to make
sure that they are trained before
they're departing to live terminal operations.
Well, I think automation for a long time stay as a buzzword and we are only at the beginning, so
I'd say 'yes' this year will be highly
focused again on automation, last year was
maybe even a bit early, now we see these
new terminals going into operation, we see
also many terminals looking at automation what you can achieve and the
really nice thing is they're broadening
the scope of the objectives where
originally there was a focus on labour cost
cutting, we see now clearly a shift to
safer operations because you're taking
people away from hazardous environments
but also a focus on sustainability,
introducing more electrical technology
better control, less noise, less light
pollution especially in urbanised areas
so I would expect automation is here to
stay and also to stay as a
development for the future.
