Suzano, the world's largest producer of market pulp and a global reference in the manufacture of bioproducts developed from the cultivation of eucalyptus, began work to optimize its logistical channels for the outflow of production from the company's new factory in Ribas do Rio Pardo ( MS). One of the projects is the implementation of a new intermodal terminal for the company in Mato Grosso do Sul, in the municipality of Inocência (MS), to transport the pulp produced at the new factory via rail transport to the Port of Santos.
The new terminal is being implemented on the banks of the MS-240 and will have a total constructed area of almost 24.2 thousand m², of which 21.5 correspond to the warehouse area. The development also includes 8,800 meters of internal and external railway line, which include branches for reserve, segregated, and loaded wagons and two rail pegs for maneuvering locomotives and wagons, aiming to increase efficiency in the operation of unloading and loading trucks. in the wagons.
“With the construction of the intermodal terminal in Inocência and the expansion of the port terminals in Santos, we are getting closer and closer to making the operation of the new factory in Ribas do Rio Pardo even more feasible. At Suzano, we have a guideline that says 'it's only good for us if it's good for the world', and with these structures we are connecting people to our products through more competitive, effective and, above all, more sustainable logistics for the planet. In addition, we are collaborating for the socioeconomic development of the region as a whole”, says Maurício Miranda, director of Engineering at Suzano.
With this structure, the production of the new Suzano factory will be transported by road from Ribas do Rio Pardo to Inocência, passing through the BR-262 and MS-277 highways, and, from Inocência, by rail transport to the terminals of the company in the Port of Santos by Malha Norte (wide gauge).
“In addition to being more efficient and competitive, rail transport removes trucks from the roads, making it a sustainable alternative. We are already 'carbon negative', that is, we capture more CO² than we emit, and we want to be more and more. Therefore, our entire project, from the construction of the factory to the disposal of our production, is designed within the concept of innovability, the combination of innovation and sustainability. The measure also meets the commitments signed by the company to remove more than 40 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere by 2030”, adds Maurício.
Work on the intermodal terminal began in the first half of this year. Currently, there are around 280 workers working on three work fronts: earthmoving services, starting the implementation of the railroad and execution of building foundations. At the peak of the work, which should take place in November this year, around 320 jobs will be generated. Upon completion, scheduled for the third quarter of next year, there will be 80 jobs for operating the terminal.
With the new investments, Suzano will have two intermodal terminals in Mato Grosso do Sul. The first one implemented by the company was inaugurated in 2017, in Aparecida do Taboado, to transport production from the Três Lagoas Unit.
Port of Santos
Parallel to the implementation of the terminal in Mato Grosso do Sul, Suzano has also started work on expanding and improving the two terminals in operation at the Port of Santos, T32 and DPW, the latter operated in partnership with the company DP World Santos. The works began in February this year and continue simultaneously in the two intermodal terminals, increasing the combined areas of the current warehouse by 30,000 m², in addition to implementing systems to improve processes.
Among the actions for modernizing and optimizing operations at the terminals in Santos are: implementation of gantry cranes for unloading cargo taken by rail to terminal T32, with a view to increasing the safety and efficiency of the operation. Operated by a control room, the system has the capacity to unload up to 44 wagons at the same time, replacing the use of forklifts. The gantry cranes have the capacity to move 48 tons of pulp.
In addition, the overhead crane system, a Suzano innovation at the DPW Terminal, will be expanded with the installation of two new overhead cranes for handling pulp. The bridges, eight in all after completion of the works, have individual capacity to carry up to 40 tons of cellulose.
Currently, the works are in the process of finalizing the staking and starting to assemble the metallic structures of the deposits, which corresponds to 40% of the project. There are around 450 people working at the two terminals. At the peak, there will be 550 workers working on the expansion works. The expansion of the two terminals is expected to be completed by July 2024.