NUMBERCheck video gate from ASE digitizes entrances and exits at Duisburger Hafen AG (port of Duisburg, Germany)

Intelligent image processing is one of the basic technologies for automation and digitization in the transport and logistics industry. The automation of logistical processes along the value chain includes, among other things, the fully automatic monitoring and registration of incoming and outgoing goods.

The port of Duisburg has now put a pilot system for fully automatic recognition of wagon and container numbers into operation at logport III. Now the data will no longer be entered manually and can be used after editing. This enables a better planning and control of the entire logistical process, so that throughput times can be significantly reduced. At logport III, 180,000 loading units per year are currently registered, with a strong upward trend.

Automation optimizes processes and provides reliable as-is documentation

After recording and processing the data, the port operator, respectively the responsible terminal operator automatically receives a wagon list in the correct order, which contains BIC codes (owner code) with associated containers per wagon as well as UIC numbers (uniform European code for wagon numbers) and ILU codes (owner code for identifying European intermodal loading units such as interchangeable containers, semi-trailers, etc.). The wagon lists are also provided with a time stamp and a location and are stored in the network.

In future, the Port of Duisburg will be able to inspect the arriving trains, wagons and loading units for any visible damage and, if necessary, mark them by means of a graphical user interface via a selection field so that a damage report can be printed out and saved after the train has passed. The Port of Duisburg pays special attention to container corners that may already have been damaged upon entry, which is why pictures of complete wagons were also desired when the order was placed.

High benefit through our OCR system

The automated recognition and verification enables effective personnel deployment planning, speedes up logistical processes and thus leads to cost and time savings, since manual checks are no longer necessary.

Prof. Thomas Schlipköther, Member of the Executive Board of Duisburger Hafen AG, comments: "As the largest inland port in the world, we also want to be a technological leader. OCR technology greatly improves our internal control and is a practical example of the digitization of the logistics chain. For us, it is also a further step in the implementation of a secure TAF TSI system.

We are pleased to be able to support a renowned company such as the Port of Duisburg with our system.

Greetings from Bruchsal,

Your ASE Team