Background

In March 1999 CAMCO Technologies was established with the goal to develop intelligent camera systems to inspect and identify trucks, trailers and containers when entering and leaving terminals.

Beginning 2002 CAMCO implemented its first dynamic SuperGate Camera OCR system in the RoRo terminal of Hanko (Finland). The SuperGate camera portal makes of each truck that is driving through the portal a set of high resolution images providing the terminal operator with a visual proof of the condition of the trucks and transported cargo, and thus allowing a significantly reduction of the damage claims. Simultaneously the integrated OCR engines allow the automatic identification of the truck and its containers. With its first system CAMCO was already able to reach the highest OCR accuracy rates and thus becoming the de facto benchmark in its market.

After this first installation, more installations followed quickly in numerous RoRo, container and rail terminals around the globe. See our references section for a detailed overview.

In 2003 CAMCO launched its SuperPass solution in the Ports of Turku and Pori (Finland). SuperPass is a LPR- and RFID-based access control system for ports and harbors allowing the port authorities to control and manage every access point of the harbor from one central location without having to man each port access with a guard, and in compliance with the ISPS code.

In 2005 the first TrainGate system became operational at the HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai in Hamburg, Germany. With this pilot project CAMCO proved again its technical and engineering capabilities.

In 2006 CAMCO introduced the first comprehensive AutoGate solutions at APM Terminals in Rotterdam, and at the Terminal de France in Le Havre, France. AutoGate is the integrated solution that combines the extremely accurate SuperGate OCR camera systems with industrial self-service kiosks and the Gate Operating System GOS to manage and steer all gate processes and interfaces with TOS, Customs, access control and other host systems.
AutoGate allows the terminals to maximize the gate operation efficiencies and significantly reduce the operational costs by limiting the number of help desk interventions and consequently the number of gate staff.

2007 was the year of the real break-through of the CAMCO AutoGate solution with several new major projects in different terminals in Europe, South-America and South-Africa. CAMCO was able to further internationalize and proved to be able to implement and service projects on different continents. CAMCO also became the first gate automation partner to interface with the new N4 TOS system of Navis when introducing AutoGate at Transnet Pier 1 terminal in Durban, South-Africa.

Every one of these projects allowed CAMCO to gain extensive experience in the modern terminal and gate processes, enabling further developments and improvements of its systems.

This latter resulted in 2008 in the launch of the third generation GOS, incorporating a complete new framework that allows faster and more modular implementations of gate automation systems.

Also in 2008 CAMCO launched its new GRID Kiosk system the need to create more secure, automated transfer processes between truck driver and the newly introduced Automatic Stacking Crane systems.

Today the CAMCO gate automation solutions and OCR camera systems can be found in numerous terminals around the globe, and this installed base continues to grow. We remain completely focused to improve our technologies and systems, while at the same time working on new systems to further maximize the customers' terminal and gate efficiencies. See our references section for a detailed overview of our customers.