Semi-trailer specialist CargoBeamer has assumed terminal operations in the German city of Kaldenkirchen. The intermodal operator is currently working on its own terminal facility at the site. The transfer of operational responsibility from the previous operator to CargoBeamer marks a new stage in the terminal’s development.
CargoBeamer started working on its new Kaldenkirchen terminal in late 2025 on the site of the existing Cabooter Group reachstacker terminal. The site, close to the border with the Netherlands, will eventually be equipped with CargoBeamer’s own transshipment technology. This should come to fruition in early 2027, once the first terminal expansion phase is completed.
For now, construction work is still underway. However, CargoBeamer has already assumed responsibility over operations at Kaldenkirchen. These continue in parallel with the construction efforts.
CargoBeamer explains that it has been operating an intermodal service between Kaldenkirchen and Domodossola for several years, “enabling non-craneable semi-trailers to use rail at scale.”
Threefold expansion with homegrown tech
“With currently 20 weekly roundtrips, it ranks among the most frequent schedules in Europe’s intermodal sector”, the intermodal specialist says. Currently, Kaldenkirchen still uses reachstacker equipment to handle loading units. This is set to change with the installation of the CargoBeamer handling technology, which enables fully automated, horizontal transshipment of all types of semi-trailers.
The introduction of the new tech will double the terminal’s annual capacity to around 140,000 loading units from 2027, according to the intermodal operator. “Upon completion of the final full expansion, terminal capacity will exceed 200,000 loading units per year, which is more than three times the pre-expansion level”, CargoBeamer explains.
Domodossola to follow soon
“With the expansion of the terminal in Kaldenkirchen, we continue to invest in proprietary infrastructure as the strategic backbone of our European network”, commented Nicolas Albrecht, CEO of CargoBeamer.
“While we look forward with great anticipation to the opening of the first CargoBeamer terminal in Germany, the expansion of our terminal in Domodossola with CargoBeamer technology is set to follow shortly. From 2027, we will connect the new terminals in Kaldenkirchen and Domodossola into the highest-frequency corridor in the European intermodal sector, demonstrating the dominance of the CargoBeamer system in the market.”
The construction works at Kaldenkirchen are supported by significant financial backing. CargoBeamer managed to raise 205 million euros in 12 months from investment funds, public sources and shareholders. These funds were also destined for works in Domodossola, besides Kaldenkirchen.