A Chinese-made "Red Hercules" straddle carrier makes its debut: flexible limbs and "hard-working" tires.
Fresh off the production line outside the workshop, the red straddle carrier looks like a "steel giant," yet it is surprisingly agile.
Its four hydraulic outriggers are its core "limbs." They can rise, lower, open, and close like arms, and can even adjust their angles after gripping a container. This allows the machine to make stable turns in narrow spaces. The crossbeams connecting the outriggers feature an articulated design, which absorbs vibrations under heavy loads and offers greater durability than traditional rigid connections.
Most notably, the drive wheels not only pull containers weighing tens of tons, but also feature integrated steering functions. All four wheels can turn simultaneously, or the wheels on one side can adjust direction independently. This eliminates the need for reversing when entering the yard and improves efficiency by 30%. In addition, the tires are reinforced and wear-resistant, enabling stable operation on uneven surfaces, while reducing maintenance costs by 40% compared to ordinary tires.
"In the past, we relied on cranes to slowly move containers, but now this 'strongman' can arrange containers neatly on its own," said on-site staff. The straddle carrier will soon be put into service in the port yard to handle short-distance container relocation.
