Hupac has officially opened its automated rail portal in the Terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate. Here, it applies Optical Character Recognition (OCR), a solution for automated train inspection, identification and inventor.

The technology is an important feature that helps to handle the growing traffic volumes. Thanks to an advanced camera and a sophisticated software system, the OCR portals allow remote visual inspection of information about incoming containers and wagons, thus speeding up the train checking process.

Data

The two portals have been delivered by Camco Technologies and were installed in November 2017 at the north and south entrances of the terminal. They have been tested by the rail control operators of Busto Arsizio terminal over the last months and have now gone life.

Currently, the OCR system reads the position of the loading unit on the wagon, wagon number, unit number, ISO code, door direction and seal presence. In a second phase, additional features will be made available, such as the detection and reading of codification tables as well as dangerous goods and IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods) labels.

More portals

OCR portals will also be installed in the check-in area of Terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate in the coming months, Hupac said. “This allows simplified procedures and a faster registration of the incoming and outgoing trucks.”

An OCR rail portal project has also been launched for the HTA Hupac Terminal Antwerp. Currently it is in the analysis phase, while installation is planned for the next year. Other Hupac terminals will follow, according to the Hupac digitalisation strategy.