Malcolm Rail chooses Kalmar reach stackers to meet lifting requirements at DIRFT

Background:
Malcolm Rail operates 60 trains each week between 6 terminals nationwide, providing reliable overnight transit services.

It forms part of Malcolm Logistics, a division of the wider Malcolm Group, providing integrated Road, Rail, Warehousing and services throughout the UK and into continental Europe.

Since the re-emergence of Rail as an attractive freight option, Malcolm Rail’s daily intermodal services have helped form the backbone of Anglo Scottish rail distribution for UK retailers.

Operations commenced with Terminals at Grangemouth and Linwood (Elderslie). These locations offer full intermodal services linking road, rail and warehouse services and form part of their expanded rail network, which today includes Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) – the largest single inland rail freight terminal in the UK.

The DIRFT hub has proven pivotal to the expansion of domestic intermodal operations in the UK including rail-linked warehousing services, which combine to provide the quickest links to major destinations within the UK and to Europe.

Malcolm Rail now handles UK rail/road for customers in the manufacturing, logistics and retail sectors. The end-users serviced by the Malcolm terminal operations include key retailers such as ASDA, Ikea, Sainsbury’s and Mothercare, multi-national corporations such as Diageo and UPM Kymmene and logistics specialists such as Eddie Stobart, DHL and John G Russell.

Requirement:
As one of the UK’s busiest intermodal freight terminals, DIRFT currently handles trains for major Freight Operating Companies such as DB Schenker, Direct Rail Services, Freightliner and GB Railfreight, moving container volume of around 175,000 units per annum.

A modern lifting fleet is required at DIRFT to handle an ever-increasing traffic volume. David Turner, Director of Rail, explained: “We had a replacement handling need at DIRFT and the other Malcolm Rail terminals, as our existing equipment was at the end of its frontline operational use and was becoming unreliable.”

Solution:
Malcolm Rail approached leading container handling equipment supplier Kalmar to help meet its requirements. With more than 60 years of experience, and extensive knowledge of heavy duty materials handling equipment, Kalmar had the expertise to provide a comprehensive reach stacker solution.

Outcome:
Kalmar liaised with Malcolm Rail at DIRFT, working to a timeframe of 6 to 12 months. David, was pleased with the service offered by the container handling solutions provider and explained why they were the first choice: “We chose Kalmar as we knew they were very easy to deal with, and the quality and capability of their equipment is second-to-none. The strength of their maintenance support was another reason that we knew they should be selected for this high profile operation.”

Other benefits that attracted Malcolm Rail to Kalmar included the UK coverage offered alongside competitive price of the reach stackers, which have helped to increase uptime of the equipment and lifting equipment handling efficiency at DIRFT. “Our overall experience dealing with Kalmar was very good,” concluded David, “and we would certainly recommend the company and its equipment.”