The Panama Canal, which celebrated its first centenary in August of last year, plays a crucial role in the global supply chain, shortening the distances to be traveled on trade routes between America and Asia, between America and Europe, as well as between both coasts. From the american continent. The expansion of the canal will allow the circulation of large Neo-Panamax ships, serving the great demands of maritime traffic of modern international logistics.
On April 28, the last of the 16 gates of the new Pacific locks were installed. A few weeks earlier, on April 1, the installation of the 8 rolling gates of the Atlantic had already been completed.
With the installation of all the gates, the canal expansion project now exceeds 87% of its execution. With all the gates already installed in their niches, the process of their electromechanical connection with the other elements of the locks begins. In the following stages, the lock chambers will be flooded over the next few weeks. During the next few months, the first operational tests may take place.
You can expand this information with videos and images on the official website of the Panama Canal expansion project.
Panamax, Post-Panamax and Neo-Panamax
The Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914. International logistics has grown exponentially since then, requiring ever larger cargo ships to meet the demands of economies of scale. This gave rise to the term Panamax, referring to cargo ships that, due to their dimensions, can cross the Panama Canal, and the term Post-Panamax, which refers to ships that, due to their dimensions, are too large to cross the canal. .
Even though maritime traffic is slow compared to air, rail or road transport, when it comes to economies of scale it is still the most economical. What makes most of the foreign trade move in the ports.
All this motivated the expansion project of the Panama Canal, which will allow the circulation of larger ships, giving rise to the term Neo-Panamax that defines the limits of the dimensions of the ships that will be able to cross the canal through the new complexes. of locks.
The relationship of ATOX metal racks with Panama
ATOX Storage Systems has a track record of more than 50 years designing and manufacturing metal shelving and storage systems of the highest quality.
The commitment to quality, excellence in customer service and innovation have positioned ATOX as a leader in storage solutions at an international level, especially in Europe and Latin America.
ATOX has a special presence in Panama, with a firm commitment and dedication to the development and enrichment of institutional relations with Spain. As a result of this, ATOX Storage Systems hosts the Consulate of Panama in Asturias with an office in its facilities in Gijón.
The role of ATOX metal shelving in the international supply chain
ATOX has been optimizing the space in its clients’ warehouses and improving their performance for more than 50 years. With experience in a wide variety of industrial, commercial and logistics sectors, ATOX has manufactured storage systems and metal racking systems tailored to each client, covering a wide spectrum of warehouse types, from large distribution centers to small logistics warehouses. urban.
With its own experience in internationalization and the experience of having helped improve the logistics of its international clients, the metal racks manufactured by ATOX Storage Systems are present in all stages of the international supply chain.
The commitment to innovation has given rise to the automated storage systems of ATOX Technological Solutions which, together with the high quality of the metal racks from ATOX Storage Systems, allow warehouses to achieve the performance levels required by the demands of the modern supply chain.
