What Is a Reach Stacker?
A Reach Stacker is a specialized vehicle used for cargo handling in ports, involving lifting and moving containers or placing them onto transport vehicles.
Similar to a forklift, it lifts containers from below and moves them by gripping them from the top. Like a crane, its arm extends, and a twist lock attached to the spreader (lifting gear) at the tip is inserted and secured into the fittings on top of the container to lift it.
Traditionally, the machinery in the container yard is used for loading and unloading containers at the port. However, using a Reach Stacker allows operations outside the container yard, making the lifting and lowering of containers more convenient.
To operate it, one must complete training in driving skills, such as operating a shovel loader.
Uses of Reach Stacker
The area where containers are stored before being transported by ship is known as the container yard. The container yard is situated in the maintenance area, and from here, containers are loaded onto ships or trucks for overland transport.
When the container yard is congested, a Reach Stacker is used to temporarily place transported containers to free up space. This allows trucks to load and transport the next container quickly, reducing overall processing time.
In case damages or scratches are found on a container, it cannot be put back into the container yard after transportation. By using a Reach Stacker to place the container in a temporary location, it becomes possible to proceed with the next task, improving efficiency.
The use of Reach Stackers helps alleviate congestion in container yards.
Moreover, in smaller ports lacking large facilities or at inland cargo terminals, Reach Stackers are used as alternatives to specialized equipment for transporting containers, or in place of forklifts.