Media release

Automation of the train checking process

Hupac announces the successful go-live of the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) rail portals inside the Terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate.

The portals provide a solution for automated train inspection, identification and inventory – an important feature that helps to handle the growing traffic volume. 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.  

The two portals from Camco Technologies 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.

Today the OCR system reads the following data:

• position of the loading unit on the wagon
• wagon number
• unit number
• ISO code
• 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.

Furthermore, OCR portals will be installed in the check-in area of Terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate in the coming months. 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 digitalization strategy.