Innovative logistics services create the basis for this. "If you want to shift more traffic from the road, you have to get semi-trailers onto the rails. CargoBeamer offers a first-class solution here thanks to its transhipment technology. It has developed into a pioneering concept for environmentally friendly and sustainable transport concepts," emphasizes Erich Staake, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG: "I am very pleased that our shareholders have now approved the entry into an equity investment in addition to the existing successful partnership!"

CargoBeamer: Digitally controlled and flexible
CargoBeamer is a fully automated system designed primarily for the rail transportation of all types of craneable and non-craneable semi-trailers. It consists of special rail wagons and appropriately equipped terminals. Loading and unloading takes place by driving and parking semi-trailers in special tubs, which are then moved horizontally and completely automatically together with the semi-trailers into the waiting train. In this way, CargoBeamer enables the complete loading and unloading of a freight train with up to 36 wagons in less than 20 minutes. The CargoBeamer wagon technology is also fully compatible with the cranes and reach stackers widely used in classic combined transport. This means that almost every existing CT terminal is able to load and unload CargoBeamer wagons. Customers, such as local freight forwarders, simply bring their semi-trailers to the rail terminal. From there, they are transported by rail to their destination.

With the truck semi-trailer directly onto the rail duisport has already started to expand its trimodal freight handling services inland with the first CargoBeamer trains. "This will provide our customers with even more reliable and climate-friendly logistics chains in the future - without placing an additional burden on their vehicle fleet with high investments," says Erich Staake. The CargoBeamer system can transport not only semi-trailers, but also typical intermodal units. The capacity of each train is 36 semi-trailers or 45-foot containers. Each semi-trailer can carry up to 26 tons of cargo.

New terminal, improved infrastructure CargoBeamer and duisport are pursuing a vision for the future: together they are working towards digitally automated transshipment for semi-trailers from road to rail. Combined with robotized goods centers and the electromobile distribution of goods over the "last mile", the aim is to create an efficient European model for a sustainable transport network in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia.

An important building block for this development will be a joint terminal project based on the CargoBeamer infrastructure. As part of this project, CargoBeamer's innovative CBoXX technology will also be directly integrated. This is a high-volume rail container that can be loaded and unloaded completely robotized at the terminal. This means that an efficient service for LTL/LCL volumes (freight volumes with unit sizes below an entire semi-trailer or container) can be brought to the market.

Around 30 percent of all rail trade between China and Europe already passes through the Port of Duisburg. Between 50 and 60 trains a week currently travel between duisport and around 20 different destinations in China.