Kalmar is building – and selling! – these massive electric reach stackers in China

Kalmar began building its 45-ton ERG450 electric reach stackers at a Shanghai manufacturing plant back in 2023, aiming to bring heavy-duty cargo handler closer to potential customers across the Asian market. That investment appears to be paying off, with the company announcing four new orders from to close out Q2.

The Kalmar ERG450 electric reach stacker offers logistics fleets and port operators up to 45 tons of lifting capacity with less noise, fewer harmful carbon emissions, and less downtime for maintenance than comparable diesel models – but, while the Swedish company has had success in the West, it’s only recently begun making moves in the all-important Chinese market. That’s what makes its most recent quarter-closing order for four new machines to customers in Mongolia, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hong Kong so significant.

“These orders reflect the accelerating adoption of electrified heavy machinery across China, and demonstrate our capability to deliver cutting-edge solutions that empower the industry’s transition toward more sustainable operations,” says John Zhang, Managing Director at Kalmar’s Shanghai manufacturing plant. “Furthermore, these orders also highlight the strategic importance of our recently expanded Shanghai plant, which strengthens our local manufacturing capabilities and our ability to respond to the growing demand in the Chinese market for fully electric cargo-handling equipment.”

These four machines are significant for another reason, too: they’re the first units to feature the next-generation Kalmar lithium-ion battery packs, which delivers enhanced energy capacity, improved thermal stability, and a longer, more predictable performance curve across a wider range of operating environments than the company’s typical lead-acid battery packs.

That superior energy density, paired with li-ion’s much faster DC charging capabilities, give the electric machines an even bigger advantage over diesel than before.

“Moving forward,” adds Alex Tang, Vice President, Kalmar Greater China, “we are ready to support our customers in their long-term energy transition and to help them build viable roadmaps for electrification of their equipment fleets.”

Going even greener

Sustainability is massively important to many customers. Kalmar gets it, and they’re calling the ERG450 their most sustainable reach stacker to date, citing the use of at least 50% recycled steel, significantly reducing the carbon cost of manufacturing the machines. The company has also replaced their conventional iron counterweight materials with a new counterweight made from unprocessed, emission-reducing materials that are naturally heavy, further reducing the machines’ embedded carbon costs.

You can read more about what Kalmar says makes its new reach stacker an “Eco Hero” here, then let us know what you think of the big material handler in the comments.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Kalmar.

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