Kalmar Modernisation Services
Extend the Life of Material Handling Equipment with Expert Modernisation
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Sustainable Equipment Lifecycle Solutions with Kalmar Modernisation Services
Kalmar’s Modernisation Services are designed to help you extend the life and enhance the performance of your entire fleet—while supporting your sustainability goals. By modernising existing equipment rather than replacing it, you reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower your carbon footprint.
What Can Modernisation Services Do for Your Container Handling Operations?
Kalmar’s Modernisation Services deliver tailored solutions for all major container cranes and container handling equipment, including straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), rail mounted gantry cranes (RMGs), ship-to-shore cranes (STSs), automatic stacking cranes (ASCs), container stackers, and reach stackers. Our comprehensive portfolio—covering inspections, repairs, refurbishments, modernization upgrades, and advanced digitalization—ensures your terminal assets operate safely, reliably, and cost-effectively while supporting sustainable operations.
Designed to extend equipment lifecycle, enhance operational efficiency, and align with evolving safety and environmental standards, our modernisation solutions help you meet stricter regulations, reduce emissions, and adopt energy-efficient technologies. By lowering total cost of ownership and maximizing asset value, we enable you to future-proof your operations. Backed by decades of expertise and a global service network, Kalmar keeps your container handling cranes and vehicles productive, compliant, and environmentally responsible throughout their entire lifecycle.
Why choose Kalmar Modernisation Services?
Modernisation can be a smart and sustainable alternative to equipment replacement. It allows you to extend equipment life, enhance reliability and operational efficiency and compliance, and reduce operating costs—while significantly reducing the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and transporting new machinery.
By upgrading key systems and components, you can:
- Enhance the reliability and performance of your straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, and container cranes through targeted modernisation, refurbishment, and upgrade solutions.
- Adapt your container cranes and straddle carriers to new environmental and operational standards with power unit retrofits, electricity conversions, and digitalisation services.
- Maximise the value of your existing reachstackers, container stackers, and container cranes by extending their lifecycle with inspections, repairs, and modernisation upgrades.
- Minimise resource consumption and emissions from your straddle carriers, container cranes, and other container handling equipment by implementing sustainable refurbishment and upgrade programs.
Sustainable Equipment Lifecycle Management
Kalmar’s modernisation services are guided by the principle of managing the equipment lifecycle sustainably. By upgrading existing assets instead of replacing them, you help reduce environmental impact, optimise resource use, and support long-term operational resilience.
Straddle Carrier Modernisation
Kalmar’s straddle carrier and shuttle carrier modernisation services help you maintain fleet competitiveness, support compliance and reduce environmental footprint. These solutions are available for individual machines or entire fleets.
Equipment inspections and condition assessments:
- Structural evaluations to assess durability and remaining lifecycle
- Visual and functional checks for hydraulics, electrics, and safety systems
- Equipment inspections using digital tools for predictive maintenance
Repairs and refurbishments:
- Remanufactured engines, drives, and gearboxes
- Suspension system upgrades and tyre pressure monitoring systems
- Repairs and refurbishments that renew functionality and prolong equipment lifespan
Upgrades and modernisation:
- Structural enhancements to reinforce durability
- Powertrain upgrades for improved fuel efficiency
- Power unit retrofits and electricity conversions to support energy transition
- Control and drive system upgrades for better maintainability
- Safety retrofits, including visibility improvements and collision warning systems
- End-of-life parts replacement to ensure reliability and uptime
- Digitalisation services: connected equipment retrofits, data integration, and remote monitoring
Crane Modernisation Services
Kalmar offers a full suite of crane modernisation services for Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs), Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMGs), Ship-to-Shore Cranes (STSs), and Automatic Stacking Cranes (ASCs), helping you meet performance, safety, and sustainability targets.
Equipment inspections and condition assessments:
- Drone inspections for structural integrity
- Visual and functional checks for hydraulics, electrics, and safety systems
- Structural evaluations for durability and lifecycle analysis
Crane repair and refurbishment:
- Component remanufacturing (engines, drives, gearboxes)
- Full fleet refurbishment projects
- Repairs and refurbishments to restore performance and extend equipment life
Crane upgrades and modernisation:
- STS boom extensions and heightenings for larger vessels
- Power unit retrofits and electricity conversions
- Control and drive system upgrades
- Safety improvements, including Kalmar Anti-Collision System
- Digitalisation services for predictive maintenance and operational insight
All crane modernisation packages are tailored to your operational needs, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum ROI.
How can modernisation services transform your material handling equipment?
Kalmar’s Modernisation Services are not limited to container handling equipment—they also deliver significant value for other essential material handling machines, such as reach stackers, heavy-duty forklifts, and logstackers.
The core benefit of modernisation is to extend the operational life of your equipment and enhance its performance without the high cost or environmental impact of full replacement. For example, upgrading the powertrain of a reach stacker can significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while converting an industrial forklift to electric or hybrid power helps you comply with tightening environmental regulations and lower operating expenses.
Our tailored solutions include engine and transmission upgrades, hydraulic system improvements, advanced control technologies, and smart digital features that boost reliability and precision. At the same time, modernisation enhances operator safety and ergonomics, keeping your fleet competitive and future-ready. For logstackers, this could involve structural reinforcements, enhanced safety systems, and operator cabin upgrades for improved comfort and visibility. These targeted improvements not only increase productivity but also ensure your fleet meets the latest safety and sustainability standards.
By choosing modernisation, you protect your investment, reduce lifecycle costs, and minimise downtime, all while advancing your sustainability goals. Backed by decades of expertise and a global service network, Kalmar ensures your reach stackers, forklifts, and logstackers remain efficient, compliant, and environmentally responsible throughout their lifecycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between crane refurbishment and crane modernisation for container cranes and shipping container cranes?
Crane refurbishment for container cranes and shipping container cranes focuses on restoring the equipment to its original performance level by repairing or replacing worn components. Crane modernisation, on the other hand, involves upgrading systems such as control and drive systems, power units, and automation features on Ship-to-Shore Cranes (STS), Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTG), Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMG), and Automatic Stacking Cranes (ASC) to improve safety, energy efficiency, and operational performance beyond the original specification. Both approaches help extend the lifecycle of container handling equipment and support sustainable terminal operations.
Do Kalmar modernisation services support non-Kalmar straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, container stackers, and container cranes?
Yes. Kalmar modernisation services are available for a wide range of container handling equipment, including Straddle Carriers, Shuttle Carriers, Container Stackers, Reach Stackers, and Container Cranes such as Ship-to-Shore Cranes (STS), Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTG), Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMG), and Automatic Stacking Cranes (ASC). Our crane inspections, crane repair, crane refurbishment, and crane upgrade solutions are compatible with both Kalmar and third-party equipment, ensuring reliable performance across mixed machinery portfolios. This includes shipping container cranes and other container handling equipment from various manufacturers. Kalmar’s expertise in modernisation, digitalisation services, and power unit retrofits ensures that your entire terminal—regardless of equipment brand—can benefit from improved safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
How do Kalmar digitalisation services improve the performance of straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, container stackers, and container cranes?
Kalmar’s digitalisation services—such as connected equipment retrofits, data integration, and remote monitoring—enhance the performance of straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, container stackers, and container cranes by enabling predictive maintenance and real-time operational insights. These services help reduce unplanned downtime, improve safety, and support smarter decision-making across your container handling equipment.
What are the benefits of a straddle carrier upgrade, shuttle carrier modernisation, or container stacker refurbishment for container terminals?
Upgrading straddle carriers, modernising shuttle carriers, and refurbishing container stackers improves safety, reduces maintenance costs, and extends equipment lifecycle. Kalmar’s solutions—such as PLC replacements, suspension system upgrades, remanufactured engines, and power unit electricity conversions—bring older container handling equipment up to modern standards, supporting sustainability and operational efficiency in container terminals.
How do I choose the right modernisation services for my straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, container stackers, or container cranes?
Kalmar provides comprehensive equipment inspections and condition assessments for straddle carriers, shuttle carriers, container stackers, and container cranes—including ship-to-shore cranes, rubber tyred gantry cranes, rail mounted gantry cranes, and automatic stacking cranes. Based on the results of these assessments, Kalmar recommends the most effective modernisation solution for your specific equipment, whether that involves crane refurbishment, straddle carrier upgrade, shuttle carrier modernisation, or container stacker refurbishment. Our approach ensures that your container handling equipment receives the right upgrades to meet your operational goals, improve reliability, and extend equipment lifecycle.
Will crane modernisation, straddle carrier upgrades, or container stacker refurbishment affect compliance or warranties for container handling equipment?
All Kalmar modernisation services—including crane upgrades, crane refurbishment, straddle carrier modernisation, shuttle carrier upgrades, and container stacker refurbishment—are designed to meet or exceed industry safety and environmental standards. These upgrades ensure your container handling equipment, such as container cranes and shipping container cranes, remains compliant and reliable without compromising existing warranties or certifications.
Related articles and News
Kalmar and APM Terminals – Advancing Container Terminal Efficiency
Kalmar and APM Terminals have strengthened their long-term partnership to enhance container handling efficiency and sustainable terminal operations. The agreement includes advanced cargo-handling solutions, Kalmar modernisation services, and lifecycle support to optimize performance across APM Terminals’ global network.
As part of this collaboration, Kalmar also supports straddle carrier modernisation, including fleet upgrades and shuttle carrier modernisation, ensuring extended equipment life and improved operational reliability.
Kalmar and AGL – STS Crane Refurbishment for Operational Excellence
Kalmar partnered with Africa Global Logistics (AGL) to modernize two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at the Port of Abidjan. The project involved crane inspections, crane repair, and a full crane modernisation and refurbishment program, including major component upgrades and maintenance training. These improvements ensure safe, reliable operations and prolong equipment life while supporting sustainability of critical port equipment.