Santos Brasil doubles productivity in rail terminals with the new Twin Lift feature

Santos Brasil has doubled the productivity of its railroad operations by simultaneously loading and unloading two 20-foot containers at Tecon Santos - the largest and most efficient terminal in Latin America. The pioneering innovation in the Santos complex was made possible by the development of a RTG (Rubber-tire Gantry Crane) feature called Twin Lift.

The major advantage of the Twin Lift is to service trains within a smaller space of time (a smaller window). Now, a train carrying fifty 20-foot containers is operated in about an hour and a half, which previously took three hours on average. The new system was customized by Santos Brasil´s Technology, Maintenance and Operations teams, and also features individual container weighing capacity.

"Operating in railroads with higher operational productivity has a direct impact on export cargo because after weighing, it is already possible to initiate customs clearance for subsequent shipment", said Santos Brasil Port and Logistics Operations Executive Director Ricardo Molitzas.

For clients who utilize railroad sidings for sending or receiving their cargo, the innovation also means being able to rely on a more agile operation with the same quality and state-of-the-art equipment. "We increased train flow at Tecon Santos, we move the cargo more efficiently, and it is the client who always benefits at the end of the logistics chain", says the executive.

Currently, a monthly average of 1,150 20-foot containers is being handled at the four Tecon Santos railroad sidings. The expectation is to reach 1,500 units/month by the end of the year. The company is also looking at the possibility of operating a second RTG with the Twin Lift feature in the coming months.

For three years now, logistics operation by rail has been one of Santos Brasil´s focus points. The company has leveraged the competitive advantage of operating the only terminal with four rail sidings in the Port of Santos, as well as the country´s scenario of opportunities in the railway sector, and is now offering attractive costs to clients.

It is also worth noting that the railway modal has established itself as a strong alternative for reducing traffic on the roads and on the accesses to the Port of Santos. To illustrate this, each railcar can carry up to four 20-foot containers, enough to take four trucks out of the streets. In addition, it reduces operating risk and the level of CO2 emissions in the environment by up to 70%, and is directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development objectives and the Santos Brasil Sustainability Policy.