VAHLE is presenting solutions for electrified port logistics at TOC Europe

Kamen / Hamburg, 6 May 2026 – Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. KG will be presenting solutions for the electrification of container terminals at TOC Europe 2026 in Hamburg from 19 to 21 May. 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 the 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 question 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 will demonstrate how energy 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 developed further with the modular TriMotion Compact system solution. In addition, battery-based storage solutions such as the VAHLE Battery Storage System are being deployed, which act as dynamic energy buffers in terminal operations.

By providing energy on demand, grid peaks are specifically reduced and power flows within the terminal are stabilised. Thanks to modular and immersion-cooled battery concepts, capacity and performance can be flexibly adapted to different operating profiles, such as for 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 reliability in port use. This means that crane movements in battery mode can also be carried out temporarily off-grid and with zero local emissions.

The practical impact of this approach is evident in electrified RTG applications using TriMotion Compact. “By replacing diesel-powered generators, up to around 300 tonnes of CO2 can be saved per year and per conversion – depending on the operational profile. This makes the decarbonisation of terminal processes not only technically feasible, but also economically scalable and operationally integrable,” emphasises Warzecha.

VAHLE’s PowerDock charging infrastructure is also based on this principle. The solution enables the automated charging of electric terminal vehicles during operational downtime. The charging process is integrated directly 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 standardising charging processes in the terminal whilst simultaneously increasing the availability of electric fleets in continuous operation,” says Warzecha. “The energy supply thus becomes an integral part of the process chain.”

In addition, VAHLE is continuing to drive forward its developments in the field of shore power supply. In the Port of Hamburg, the system provider has implemented a mobile installation for HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG that reliably supplies ships with electrical energy whilst they are berthed. The system replaces diesel-powered on-board 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 is presenting its solutions for electrified and automated port logistics at Stand E92. Visitors will gain insights into current systems for RTG electrification, automated charging, energy management and shore power applications, and will be able to discuss specific application scenarios with the company’s experts.