ACT Holdings is the holding company of Asia Container Terminals Limited (“ACT”), the company that owns and operates Container Terminal 8 West, located at Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, adjacent to HPH Trust’s existing container terminals (Hongkong International Terminals Limited (“HIT”) and COSCO-HIT Terminals (HK) Limited (“COSCO-HIT”).

Mr. WANG Xingru, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of COSCO Pacific, expressed his delight at joining hands together with HPH Trust and CSTD to develop ACT’s Terminal 8 West in Hong Kong. Mr. Wang said, “Further to our existing successful joint venture with HPH Trust at COSCO-HIT’s Terminal 8 East in Hong Kong, I believe that Terminal 8 East and West will form a competitive platform to provide comprehensive and efficient terminal services to our customers. Our investment in ACT will enhance our terminal profitability and further strengthen our presence in Hong Kong which is one of the major gateways to South China.”

Mr. FANG Meng, Managing Director of CSTD, said, “We are pleased to team up with HPH Trust and COSCO Pacific in the ACT investment. This is CSTD’s first container terminal investment in Hong Kong and it extends our geographic presence along China’s coastal ports. The single contiguous 1,380-metre berth at Container Terminal 8 will enable us to establish Hong Kong port as a key container shipping hub for the deployment of ultra large containerships, including the 19,000-TEU vessels which are scheduled for delivery in November.”  

HPH Trust Chief Executive Officer Mr. Gerry YIM noted this is a win-win situation, “This collaboration with COSCO Pacific and CSTD is a significant milestone achievement for HPH Trust that bodes well for the future of ACT, which handled over one million TEU in 2013. This will enhance the city’s competitiveness and bolster all aspects of port operations including flexibility, efficiencies, synergies, and profitability.” 

Of French nationality and educated in Paris, Olivier has been based in South America since 1996 where he started his industry career working in shipping operations in the Port of Talcahuano, Chile.  He has worked in various commercial management roles in Peru, Argentina and Chile, latterly working for Agencia Maritima Internacional (Ultramar Holding).

Reporting to Jaime Otero, EVP Marine Solutions, South and Central America, multi-lingual Olivier will be based in Valparaiso, Chile. His role will focus on developing ISS’ business across all major commodity sectors throughout the region, where his extensive experience and knowledge of this strategically important high growth environment will support ISS’ objectives to provide an expanded scope of services to an ever-increasing base of customers.

EVP Jaime Otero said, “ISS is delighted to welcome Olivier Lavau-Wira to this key position. As ISS gears up to extend its geographical network and the range of services we offer across the region, Olivier’s broad operational and commercial expertise will be of great benefit to both ISS and to our customers.”

Hald & Grunewald follows NORGATEC trading company in Hamburg to become the second new distributor of Hyster products in Germany. “Hald & Grunewald has 25 fitters in the Württemberg region and is a strong partner to support us in sales and service in the region,” says Ralf Mock, Managing Director of NMHG (EMEA). “We are expanding our global network of distribution partners with this company and more strategic partners will be added throughout Germany.”

Hyster sells its products worldwide exclusively through independent dealers.

Partnership with Hyster strengthens customer loyalty

Founded in 1965 and based in Herrenberg, near Stuttgart, Hald & Grunewald employs 68 experienced employees, who on average have been in the business for 15 years. Over 30 employees are responsible for the service in Württemberg, covering an area of more than 13,500 square miles (approximately 35,000 km²).

“Manufactured in Europe, Hyster materials handling equipment is designed to enable easy maintenance access for minimised downtime so, we are now even better equipped to meet the needs of our customers and strengthen customer loyalty,” says Hald & Grunewald Managing Director, Sabine Marquardt. “With the diverse range of more than 140 Hyster models, as well as a large number of configurations available, we can provide our customers with intelligent and ergonomic solutions.”

Hald & Grunewald plans to expand forklift business

In particular, Hald & Grunewald will support larger enterprises and offer them all products from a single source: from warehouse trucks to big trucks. So far, the company serves clients primarily in the metal and engineering industry as well as in the building materials industry and the logistics, wood, paper and beverage industry. “Our focus will stay on the full-service,” says Marquardt. “We are expanding our business. Besides sales, service, financing and European rental service we will offer special rates, which will include all costs for the truck.”

Performing fleet analysis

Hald & Grunewald will additionally focus on the rental business, including the service and supply of spare parts and accessories. “With Hyster as a partner, we can now advise our customers on trucks of all classes. For this we will perform extensive fleet analysis,” says Marquardt, explaining that training has already begun.

Following the successful project, TPS has awarded Kalmar with a project to heighten further ten RTGs. The contract was signed in February 2014.

TPS is one of the two most important container terminals in Chile, playing a key role in the import/export trade with USA and Asia, and is gearing up for expansion. The innovative RTG heightening solution, provided by Kalmar’s specialist Crane Upgrades team, effectively increases the crane stacking height from five containers to six and enables the terminal to increase its yard stacking capacity by 20 percent. This is a solution that is particularly suited to terminals where space is at a premium.

TPS spokesperson, Miss Nicole Jaramillo, Reliability Engineer at Terminal Pacifico Sur Valparaíso S.A. said, “Increasing the lift height of our RTGs instantly provides us with additional capacity in the yard, without having to expand the physical area. Kalmar gained the latest order against tough competition through an international bid. The main criteria were based on price, design and technical capabilities. Kalmar’s strong presence in Chile was also an important factor for us. We were very pleased both with the short time it took to complete the previous project and for the resulting uplift in capacity, and that is why we decided to continue with Kalmar with the heightening of ten more RTGs.”

Marcelo Massa, Managing Director, Kalmar Argentina commented: “Kalmar’s Crane Upgrades team will be in charge of electrical, mechanical and structural design modifications to the RTG geometry, manufacturing of the new structural components, software modifications, disassembly and reassembly, painting, testing and commissioning of each crane.

“South America is an important market, and more and more operators are seeing the immediate benefits of upgrading their crane capacities. Kalmar has established a South American Business Centre for Crane Upgrades to support our customers looking for specialist help in demanding crane refurbishment projects,” Massa said.

Kalmar’s strategic intent is to become a major global crane refurbishment and services provider. In 2013, it completed several upgrade projects for customers in different parts of the world.