THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY

Bromma has a three-pronged strategy for 2023. AJ Keyes discovers what the company is focusing on and how it intends to reach its goals

“Bromma has three clear focus areas for 2023,” explains Joakim Heijbel, Director, Digitalisation and Sustainability, Bromma, highlighting: “Continuous development of Bromma Solutions, digital solutions and the climate challenge.”

One major new product Bromma is developing in 2023 is a spreader specifically for straddle carriers at the request of its client base. In development for the past two years, the prototype is now built and Bromma is currently in discussions with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to take the prototype for trials. While the exact timescale for launch is not officially confirmed, it will soon be in the company’s catalogue.

“We continue to focus on both the traditional side of our business, as well as growing our smart solutions offerings,” says Lars Meurling, VP Sales, EMEA and Marketing, Bromma.

In addition to developing container handling hardware, the company is releasing two new service offerings to its digital Hawkeye Platform. This product already supports machine vision technology on-board the spreader by using digital camera feeds from critical positions and powerful processing capabilities. This enables the spreader to provide visual information to enhance process automation as well as prevent costly failures.

For 2023, the Hawkeye Twin Twenty Detection System (TTDS) is being offered. It is a spreader-mounted, camerabased option involving AI software trained to detect the condition of two twenty-foot units (being lifted simultaneously). It is a flexible system that can work in different operational situations, including viewing the containers before being landed to prevent damage and/or before lifting to prevent serious accidents.

Hawkeye Container Damage Inspection is also being launched as a solution to help manage the damage claims process. A spreader-based camera takes high resolution images of the container top, with pictures also recorded before a container pick and after placing. All images are then made available via cloud storage.

“Damage inspection has been developed on the back of direct customer requests. We can monitor and record to an image database the entire process involving our frame moving a container,” confirms Heijbel.

The company is seeing greater use of its Spreader Monitoring System too, a product first launched in 2019, that enables terminals to monitor the health of their spreader fleet and improve productivity through provision of real-time data and statistics of spreader fleets.

In 2022, Bromma saw 45 terminals across its three global regions (Europe, Mid-East & Africa, the Amercias and AsiaPacific) subscribe to SMS, with new features including a map view, Spanish language support, more in-depth analytical insights and greater API software integration. Expectations for more orders in 2023 are firmly on the agenda, especially in Spanish-speaking locations.

Addressing The Climate Challenge

Like all companies throughout the ports and shipping industry, the climate challenge remains at the forefront of Bromma’s activities for 2023.

The company has been undertaking in-depth analysis of the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) impact caused by Bromma’s spreaders during their lifetime of use, while also identifying where improvements can be made.

Heijbel explains: “For Bromma’s flagship hydraulic STS spreader (STS45) the majority of the CO2e emissions are generated from energy consumption during the use phase of the machine (67 per cent), but with the new all electric STS45E G2 PLUS spreader, the emissions from ‘use’ phase energy consumption are reduced by 87 per cent. This means that the total lifecycle CO2e emissions are reduced by 60 per cent or 73.7 tons using the all-electric STS45E G2 PLUS spreader.”

The company is also going back to basics to further its green credentials and is targeting the use of fossil-free Hybrit steel. This is a project that is developing a fossil-free steelmaking technology, using 100 per cent renewable electricity and hydrogen instead of coal and coke. The project is in the development and testing phase with plans to start volume production by 2026.

“Tests are being carried out, including fatigue tests on the headblock connection to compare conventional steel to fossil-free SSAB Hybrit steel. If available, SSAB Hybrit steel could be used to produce a zero-carbon yard spreader today,” states Heijbel.

Meurling puts the company’s strategic focus into context. “A lot of change is coming, and it is important for Bromma to be a part of this transition.”

So, what will make 2023 a special year? Meurling has a succinct reply: “An increase in the share of all-electric spreaders wanted.” Based on Bromma’s strong focus on supporting climate challenges and its continued release of more digital products, its reasonable to conclude Meurling will get his wish.

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