VAHLE is showcasing solutions for electrified port logistics at TOC Europe

Kamen / Hamburg, May 6, 2026 – Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. KG will present solutions for the electrification of container terminals at TOC Europe 2026 in Hamburg from May 19 to 21. The focus is on integrated energy systems for highly dynamic port processes, ranging from electrified crane applications and automated loading to intelligent energy management in terminal operations.

“Rising diesel prices and volatile energy costs are increasing economic pressure on port operators. At the same time, regulatory requirements are intensifying the need for low-emission terminal processes. Electrification is thus increasingly becoming not just a matter of efficiency, but a key prerequisite for sustainable terminal structures,” says Jaroslaw Warzecha, Director of the Ports Business Unit at VAHLE. “At TOC Europe, we’ll demonstrate how power supply, motion systems, and automation can be combined into a seamless, end-to-end solution.”

A key focus is on the electrification of rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), which VAHLE has been supporting in port environments for many years. This area is being consistently further developed with the modular TriMotion Compact system solution. In addition, battery-based storage solutions such as the VAHLE Battery Storage System are being deployed, which function as dynamic energy buffers in terminal operations.

By providing energy on demand, grid peaks are specifically reduced and power flows in the terminal are stabilized. Thanks to modular and immersion-cooled battery concepts, capacity and performance can be flexibly adapted to different application profiles, such as aisle changes, hybrid operation, or peak shaving. Immersion cooling ensures a constant temperature range for the battery cells—a key factor for service life, performance, and operational safety in port use. This allows crane movements in battery mode to be carried out temporarily off-grid and with zero local emissions.

The practical impact of this approach is evident in electrified RTG applications with TriMotion Compact. “By replacing diesel-based power units, up to approximately 300 tons of CO2 can be saved per year and per retrofit—depending on the application profile. This makes the decarbonization of terminal processes not only technically feasible but also economically scalable and operationally integrable,” emphasizes Warzecha.

VAHLE’s PowerDock charging infrastructure is also built on this foundation. The solution enables the automated charging of electric terminal vehicles during operational downtime. The charging process is directly integrated into the terminal process and follows the principle of opportunity charging—energy is drawn precisely when vehicles are not in active use anyway.

“With PowerDock, we are standardizing charging processes in the terminal while simultaneously increasing the availability of electric fleets in continuous operation,” says Warzecha. “The energy supply thus becomes an integrated part of the process chain.”

In addition, VAHLE is continuing to advance its developments in the field of shore power supply. In the Port of Hamburg, the system provider has implemented a mobile system for HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG that reliably supplies ships with electrical energy while they are docked. The system replaces diesel-powered onboard generators and significantly reduces emissions and noise. It also compensates for tidal movements and is already designed for future generations of electric ferries.

At TOC Europe, VAHLE will present its solutions for electrified and automated port logistics at Booth E92. Visitors will gain insights into current systems for RTG electrification, automated charging, energy management, and shore power applications, and will have the opportunity to discuss specific application scenarios with the company’s experts.