Summary

Pandenor, a leading operator of liquid bulk terminals at the Port of Suape, Pernambuco, faced a dilemma common to mature operations: how to expand its logistics capacity by 60,000 m³ without the physical space available or the margin for lengthy and costly construction. Traditional methods would have required at least four new bays. But the answer came in a different form: technological, intelligent, and surprising.

With AutoLoad, a system developed by AutoMind, the terminal transformed its operational dynamics without building a single wall. The intense traffic in the yard was reorganized into a more predictable, fluid, and efficient routine: digital scheduling, automated queue control, complete process automation, and real-time traceability. Each truck now has its own precise time to arrive, load, and depart, like a synchronized logistics orchestra.

The impact was immediate: 40% increased road transport productivity, eliminated queues, drastically reduced overtime, and, most impressively, the ability to absorb all projected growth without building new structures. Technology didn't just solve a bottleneck: it redefined the way we operate, maximizing the use of existing assets and raising service standards.

When success brings challenges

At the Port of Suape in Pernambuco, Pandenor faced the kind of problem every company dreams of—but one that can turn into a nightmare if not properly resolved. After more than 20 years operating as a specialist in the storage and movement of petroleum-derived liquids, biofuels, chemicals, and petrochemicals, the terminal was literally bursting with demand.

The company needed to expand its capacity in 60,000 m³ to remain competitive in the market. But there was one problem: there was no physical space to grow.

Traditional methods would have required the construction of at least four new loading bays, a heavy investment in civil works and equipment, and, even worse, operational interruptions during months of construction. But Pandenor's challenge went beyond space. The terminal was experiencing a daily operational rollercoaster that was costing it dearly. Something had to be done. 

Imagine the scene

Imagine the scene: at 6:00 AM, the yard was empty. By 10:00 AM, dozens of tanker trucks formed huge lines. By 2:00 PM, some bays were idle while others couldn't handle the demand. Worse still, at the end of the day, the team had to work overtime to keep up with the influx of people who had arrived at the end of the shift.

This irregularity in flow wasn't just a nuisance—it was a bottleneck in the operation that literally drained resources. Overtime costs soared, human resource management became a daily headache, and there was a risk of compromising service predictability, impacting service quality.

Paulo Perez, the company's Superintendent, knew something needed to change. But building new bays wasn't just expensive—in a port like Suape, where every square meter is precious, there simply wasn't enough space. Then came the big change.

The game changer

That's when AutoMind came into the picture with a proposal that seemed almost magical: "What if you could reach the capacity of 4 new bays without having to build any?"

THE AutoLoad arrived at Pandenor not as just another piece of software, but as a new way of thinking about operations. The idea was both simple and revolutionary: instead of expanding horizontally (more bays), how about vertically expanding the efficiency of existing bays?

Transformation in action

The implementation began by acting on the most sensitive point: the unpredictability in the flow of trucks. scheduling system AutoLoad transformed the random arrival of vehicles into a perfectly orchestrated symphony. Each truck now has its own scheduled arrival time.

THE intelligent queue control eliminated the old scenario of trucks arriving without an appointment and forming long lines in the yard. With AutoLoad, each vehicle now has a scheduled time, and drivers know exactly when and where to be. The result is operational predictability, shorter wait times, and a much more efficient logistics flow.

But the real difference came with the process automationTasks that previously required constant human intervention became automated. The system not only sped up loading and unloading operations—it made them predictable and reliable.

THE real-time traceability gave the terminal an X-ray view of the entire operation. Paulo and his team could monitor every movement, every shipment, every anomaly—all in real time, with the security that the hazardous liquids sector demands.

The result surprised even the most optimistic

The numbers speak for themselves: 40% increase in productivity of road traffic. But more impressive than that was what didn't need to be done.

Pandenor was able to fully absorb the 60,000 m³ growth without building a single new bay. The investment that would have been required for civil works was redirected to other strategic areas, and the terminal continued operating normally throughout the transformation.

The overtime that was once routine became the exception. The irregular flow of trucks transformed into a perfectly synchronized operational ballet. And the customers? They finally had the predictability they'd been seeking.

"Now the Terminal can offer its customers an accurate scheduling service, ensuring predictable service," says Paulo Perez. "We provide real-time shipment status, with details on tanker truck inflows and outflows, quantities, products, and times."

More than numbers: a new philosophy

The Pandenor case proves something fundamental: sometimes, the solution to growth isn't building more, but optimizing what already exists. AutoMind didn't just deliver a system—it delivered a new way of thinking about port operations.

For Pandenor, it meant transforming a physical limitation into a competitive advantage. For the Port of Suape, it represented an example of how technology can maximize the utilization of precious space. And for the liquid bulk sector as a whole, it demonstrated that the future doesn't necessarily lie in having more assets, but in making existing assets work smarter.