TPMS for Reach Stackers
Ports, container terminals and intermodal yards depend on the Reach Stacker to lift, stack and move shipping containers with speed and precision. Because it carries very heavy, very high loads on just six tires (doubles at the front singles at the back), tire condition on a Reach Stacker directly affects both stability and terminal throughput. This page looks at how TPMS for Reach Stackers helps terminals protect tires, avoid downtime and keep containers moving.
What is a Reach Stacker?
A Reach Stacker is a self-propelled container handler with a telescopic boom and spreader, able to lift a laden container from the ground or a rail wagon and stack it several rows deep and several containers high. Unlike a straddle carrier, it works from the side of a stack rather than driving over it, giving terminals a flexible, mobile alternative to fixed cranes.
Leading manufacturers include:
- Kalmar
- Hyster
- Konecranes
- CVS Ferrari
- SANY
Reach Stackers commonly handle laden containers up to around 45 tonnes, with the load carried well forward of the chassis on an extended boom – placing very high point loads through the front tires in particular.
The operating challenge
A terminal’s throughput is measured in container moves per hour, and the Reach Stacker is often the busiest machine on the yard, working continuous lift-carry-stack cycles all day. Any unplanned stop, especially for a tire issue on a laden machine, doesn’t just take one machine out of service – it can back up truck queues and rail operations across the whole terminal.
Tire risks specific to Reach Stackers
Because so much of the load is carried forward on the boom, Reach Stacker tires face distinct pressures:
- Extreme point loading on the front tires when handling a laden container at full reach
- Heat build-up from continuous stop-start, lift-and-stack cycles
- Under-inflation, which is especially dangerous given the height and offset of the load
- Sidewall damage from kerbs, container corners and yard debris
A tire failure on a Reach Stacker carrying a container at height is a serious stability and safety risk, not just a productivity one.
How TPMS protects Reach Stacker tires
A TPMS for Reach Stackers continuously monitors pressure across all tire positions, with particular value on the heavily loaded front axle. Because the safe handling of a laden boom depends on tire condition, real-time alerts let operators and maintenance teams catch a developing problem before it affects a lift, rather than discovering it after a tire has already failed under load.
Benefits of TPMS on Reach Stackers
- Improved stability and safety when handling containers at full reach and height
- Fewer unplanned stoppages that ripple through terminal throughput
- Longer tire life despite heavy point loading and constant cycling
- Lower fuel consumption from correctly inflated, free-rolling tires
- A complete tire performance record to support terminal maintenance planning
Fleet visibility and data ownership
Tire data from every Reach Stacker on the yard is sent to a cloud-based portal, giving terminal operations and maintenance teams a live view of tire condition across the fleet, with alerts the moment a tire moves outside its safe range. This data remains under the ownership and control of the terminal operator.
Choosing the right TPMS for your Reach Stacker fleet
Reach Stackers place unusually high, offset loads through a small number of tires, so the TPMS you choose needs to be accurate, reliable, and simple to fit around the boom and chassis. TMS® supplies TPMS for Reach Stackers and other port and terminal OTR vehicles.
Request a free trial to see how TMS® can improve safety and throughput on your Reach Stacker fleet.