The international transport group AWT, a member of the PKP CARGO group, is continuing to modernize its intermodal transport terminal in Paskov. Since May, the transshipment station has been operating the modern intermodal reach stacker Hyster RS 46-33 IH, which speeds up and improves transhipment operations for containers at the terminal. As part of its third stage of modernization, the AWT group is also expanding the total area of the Paskov terminal by another 40,000 m2 and therefore increase its capacity by 2400 TEU. Upon completion of this phase of modernization, the transshipment area will cover a total of 71,000 m2 and the capacity will double to 4,800 TEU.
The Paskov terminal is one of the most important open transshipment stations for intermodal transport in Central Europe. It is connected to major European ports such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bremenhaven, Koper, Trieste, and to important inland transport hubs. It is also a major transshipping hub for the automotive industry in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and southern Poland. As part of the PKP CARGO group, it is affiliated with 25 terminals and logistic centers in Poland, and in the future AWT is planning direct connections to the Polish ports of Gdańsk and Gdynia or Antwerp of Belgium.
“The terminal in Paskov is our big competitive advantage in providing services in intermodal transport. It has a strategic location in Central Europe, is modern and professionally run, and enjoys the great trust of our customers. Together with PKP CARGO, we have ambitious plans – we want to connect the terminal to the New Silk Road, Polish ports, and last but not least be a part of the logistics triangle of the Baltic-Adriatic-North Sea, where it will be the main hub on its southern end,” said Zbigniew Klepacki, CEO of the AWT group.
All these ambitious plans require new investment and modernization of the terminal. At the beginning of May, AWT obtained a new Hyster reach stacker on a long-term lease for the current fleet of the transshipment station. “This machine is able to handle semi trailers, swap boxes or ISO containers, in three rows and up to a height of five containers and weight of 46 tons,” said Michal Kubíček, director of the Paskov terminal.
The intermodal reach stacker RS 46-33 H is equipped with the latest technology and safety systems and achieves up to 25 percent savings in fuel without the loss of performance compared to the previous series of engines. The new reach stacker has a Load Moment Control System, which displays the weight, height of the load and unloading. Its other modern equipment include an automatic lubricating system and camera to display the area behind the stacker and camera on the shoulder of the boom.
“With innovation and the continuous development of the terminal, we are striving to provide our customers with even faster and better service. Currently we are preparing intensively for the next stage of the modernization of the Paskov terminal,” said Michal Kubíček.
As part of the first and second stages, which took place in 2011 and 2012, there has been a gradual expansion of the area and capacity to the current 2,400 TEU, the reinforcement of the handling area and the extension of the existing tracks. Both terminal modernizations required an investment of 180 million crowns. As part of the third stage of modernization, AWT is planning to expand the terminal by another 40,000 m2 and so double its capacity. Two new tracks will be built here, each 350 m in length, a parking area for 40 trucks, connections for refrigerated containers, a special place for containers with hazardous goods, and of course this expansion of space and services will require the construction of a new modern dispatching center. During this stage, AWT is planning to invest a further 100 million crowns in the terminal.
The aim of the AWT long-term strategy is to gradually lower dependence on solid fuels for transport, to look for new markets, and to increase our share primarily in the automotive or intermodal segments. “Intermodal transport is the most promising segment of the market, which guarantees the diversification of AWT revenue and the expansion of its client base. At present Intermodal represents approximately 10% of AWT shipments. Investing in transshipping infrastructure, making use of our cooperation with PKP CARGO, and expanding our offer on the market in countries of Central and Southern Europe will enable us to grow our share of this segment in the coming years,” adds Zbigniew Klepacki.
