Rail, barge and truck are large modes of transport in their own right. How to get them all under one roof so as to enable weather-proof handling – and without high-grade steel products being exposed to frost or condensation? With its cutting-edge trimodal steel logistics hub, Haeger & Schmidt Logistics (HSL) has created a groundbreaking solution. We showcase the most important stations of the new facilities on Duisburg’s Stahlinsel.
Background information
HSL has invested 12 Mio. Euro in a new steel logistics hub in Duisburg which is designed to close a crucial gap in the segment of high-grade steel products. Trimodal, fully covered and heated, the building offers great scope for taking on the role of a sustainable, forward-looking logistics hub for the industry.
Sample order
Scenario: 1,500 tonnes of high-grade, cold-rolled steel coils destined for the automotive industry is to be delivered to the new logistics hall in stages over a period of two weeks and accommodated in corrosion-protected storage. As soon as the consignment is completed, the coils are to be loaded under cover onto the coaster H&S Fairness.
In this case, HSL’s transshipment point assumes the role of a hub where the part deliveries made in sequence are collected, combined and packed in a seaworthy manner, as is required.
Delivery by rail
15 March 2022 – A block train approaches the HSL site on the Stahlinsel. About 100 m in front of HSL’s new steel hall, the railway lines fork, which is clearly marked by the company’s easily recognisable colours of blue and red. At this point, the train splits into two equally large parts.
The wagons are now ready to enter the steel hall. On two tracks, each 210 m long, the two parts of the train enters the covered steel hall. The coils are placed on pivoted bogie flat wagons (Shimmns wagons), each equipped with five cargo troughs with telescope housing. These can each be pushed together so that up to two thirds of the loading area is uncovered for loading and unloading.
Delivery via truck
In addition to rail transport, various modes of road transport converge on the Stahlinsel. The hauliers first drive into the truck forecourt where self-handling reception facilities are available in different languages. The drivers have the option of taking a break here until their slots are available. When the time comes, the registered vehicles are routed through an automatic gate directly into the building.
Handling and storage in the new steel warehouse
Wagons or trucks with consignments directly handled in the hall are unloaded by a travelling crane with a payload of 40 tonnes. A special feature is the material-friendly coil tong which enables the high-grade steel products to be securely handled. The individual units are then transferred by crane with a single lift to their destination in the warehouse. The crane operator lowers the coils onto a soft-covered roll stop. This storage system protects the products and enables them to be stored in two layers until onward transport.
A further USP: The warehouse facilities are heated by an innovative resource-conserving floor heating system. The 9,000 sqm cutting-edge steel warehouse offers space for up to to 2,000 coils.
In addition, HSL will deploy air-water heat pumps in the new steel hall, fully powered by green electricity. Further steps for the carbon-neutral operation of the terminal on the Stahlinsel in the medium term are at the planning stage.
The coil ferry – a bridge between the new and the existing
Two weeks later, the cargo for the river-sea vessel H&S Fairness is complete. The time has come to transport the pre-commissioned coils from the new hall into the existing hall which provides an undercover ship berth. A coil ferry connects up the two halls. The warehouse software shows the crane operator which coils are earmarked for transportation.
The crane operator picks the coils and, without interim storage, hoists them onto the coil ferry with its special padding for careful transport. The ferry bridges the distance of around six metres between the two halls in a closed loop system.
Shipping
The freight is now only one lift away from H&S Fairness. The coils are safely craned on board and, once in position, the sea crew takes care of the seaworthy lashing of the cargo below deck. Only a few hours pass between loading the last coil and closing the hatch.If the coaster frequence is perfect it will make the journey to the Port of Boston (UK) in around only 24 to 36 hours
All image rights are held by Haeger & Schmidt Logistics. Other image sources are noted directly in the image.