June 8 - 10, 2010 – Visit the APS team at Booth B36, Feria Valencia, Spain
News & Events
APS to Exhibit at 2010 TOC Europe - Valencia, Spain
May 10th, 2010Virginia International Terminal Improves Security with APS Technology Gate Solution
March 25th, 2010
Automates gate traffic for security, productivity improvements and faster throughput
San Diego, CA – APS Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of optical character recognition (OCR) and automation technology solutions for marine and intermodal terminals, announced Virginia International Terminals (VIT) has implemented the APS Gate OCR Portal to automate container identification and truck license plates for improved security and throughput. VIT operates all the marine terminals within the Virginia Port Authority, and is the third largest container port on the East Coast, handling over one million containers annually.
VIT is modernizing the gates at its Norfolk marine terminal to provide better service to customers and a safer and more secure environment. The first phase of the update included implementing APS Gate OCR Portals over four lanes and integrating the system with the Zebra Enterprise Solutions Navis N4 system. To keep the large-scale gate project on track, the gate OCR solution needed to be installed, turnkey, in 90 days. APS was the only provider who could meet this strict time requirement.
The APS solution captures container numbers and truck chassis numbers automatically, providing storage and retrieval capability the moment they pass through the portal. The pictures captured can be used for inspections, providing a safer environment for employees. Inspectors currently walk around the equipment making visual inspections of containers and equipment. With the APS solution, the containers can be inspected inside the facility from the photos, away from the danger of moving vehicles and large equipment.
“VIT is one of the most sophisticated terminals in the world. We regularly look for new ways to improve processes and handle more volume. Our new gate will allow us to handle higher volumes through faster processes that new technology like optical character recognition will provide,” said David Seale, Director IT for VIT. “APS is a key component in this modernization process.”
The APS solution is also expected to speed turn time for truckers entering and exiting the facility. The check-in process includes three stages, beginning with a security check. Once the next step of the gate modernization is complete, the port police will remotely operate this security check process. Reducing the amount of time at each stage will improve turn time for truckers and enable VIT to handle higher volumes.
About APS Technology Group
APS Technology Group is a leading provider of OCR and automation technology solutions for marine and intermodal terminals. The solutions improve the productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness of container operations by increasing the visibility, velocity, and volume of cargo moving through a terminal’s gate, rail, vessel and yard operations.
APS leads the industry with over 700 OCR and automation systems installed at 35 marine and intermodal container terminals in ten countries around the world. The company is located in San Diego, CA and has offices or partner resellers in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. For more information, call +1 858.571.4444 or visit http://www.aps-technology.com.
Contact: Allen Thomas, +1 704.442.5554 ext. 101
Email: allen@aps-technology.com
APS Technology Expands in Europe with Automated Marine Terminal Solutions
March 10th, 2010
Yilport adds gate, yard and vessel automation to increase productivity, accuracy and volume of cargo
San Diego, CA – APS Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of optical character recognition (OCR) and automation technology solutions for marine and intermodal terminals, today announced its expansion into Europe. Yilport Container Terminal and Port Operators Inc. is implementing APS container automation solutions at its facility in Gebze (near Istanbul), Turkey. Yilport provides container handling, general and liquid cargo handling, and warehouse services; and expects to improve productivity, increase volume and gain real-time cargo visibility with the automation.
Yilport implemented the APS Automated Gate System (AGS) in 2009 to automate the entry and exit of container trucks at its inland depot. The company has increased productivity and turnaround time by automating and remotely controlling traffic at the facility. Based on this success, Yilport chose to add crane and yard automation solutions. The company has limited yard access, which creates challenges in achieving optimum volume levels. With automation, Yilport plans to achieve 20-minute truck turnaround time, and an average of 30 moves per crane per hour.
“Our goal is to provide a valuable service in the growing international shipping market, and to increase our efficiency and productivity by applying state-of-the-art technology,” said Robert Yuksel Yildirim, President and CEO of Yilport. “We have a finite amount of space, so we need automation to increase productivity and accuracy. We are the first terminal in Turkey with automated gate and crane OCR, which will benefit our customers with faster turnaround times, increased capacity and more accurate service.”
APS is installing the solutions on four STS gantry cranes and 18 RTG cranes that will automate the process of identifying containers and their dynamic weights, as well as connecting the data with internal yard tractors during loading and discharge operations. Integration of all system data is linked to Zebra Enterprises (formerly Navis) SPARCS N4 TOS. Yilport is the first container terminal in the world to integrate APS Gate (AGS), Crane OCR and MatchMaker RTG to the Zebra SPARCS solution. Yilport expects to gain the following benefits:
- APS Crane OCR System automatically verifies containers loaded and discharged from gantry cranes, including the weight of each container and the yard tractor associated with the movement. This eliminates the need for containers to be weighed at a scale in the yard prior to parking, and therefore reduces data entry errors, labor and operating costs, and increases crane productivity.
- APS MatchMaker RTG Tractor ID System automatically identifies internal yard tractors during the container load and discharge process, and matches the information between the truck and the container during the handoff process. Once this match occurs, the Zebra system directs the Yilport driver as to where to take the container in real time.
- APS Sure Stow tells the Yilport terminal operator the position on the ship a container came from or is going to.
“Yilport recognizes the competitive edge that automation can give them,” commented APS President, Russ Scheppmann. “Yilport stepped into the Turkish market as the first terminal operator to embrace OCR and gate technology and they are setting the standards of productivity and customer service for all area ports. Yilport came to APS because we are the only provider in the marine terminal industry that offers a full suite of solutions that improve gate, yard and vessel operations.”
About APS Technology Group
APS Technology Group is a leading provider of OCR and automation technology solutions for marine and intermodal terminals. The solutions improve the productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness of container operations by increasing the visibility, velocity, and volume of cargo moving through a terminal’s gate, rail, vessel and yard operations.
APS leads the industry with over 700 OCR and automation systems installed at 35 marine and intermodal container terminals in ten countries around the world, including APM Terminals, CSX Railroad, DP World and HHLA. The company is located in San Diego, CA and has offices or partner resellers in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. For more information, call +1 858.571.4444 or visit http://www.aps-technology.com.
Contact: Clay Kent, +1 704-442-5554 ext. 102
Email: clay@aps-technology.com
APS to Exhibit at 2010 TOC Asia - Shanghai, P.R. China
March 9th, 2010March 16-18 2010 – Visit the APS team (Booth D20) at the Shanghai International Convention Centre (SICC).
From The Journal of Commerce…
March 8th, 2010
“Extracted from The Journal of Commerce”, SSA’s Ed DeNike discusses the justification for further automation in the US Terminals.