Cargotec gears up for golden anniversary

Kalmar terminal tractors were originally branded under the Ottawa name and while it took 41 years to build the first 25,000 units, the next 25,000 were produced in less than 12 years.

In April, Cargotec announced a Golden Anniversary Special Edition Kalmar terminal tractor, which features extras such as chrome steering wheel, polished aluminium wheels and LED lights. The special edition is available to customers in North America, but is slightly in advance of the anniversary – the date of the production of the world’s first terminal tractor was in 1953.

Cargotec’s Carolyn Zhang says that globally there are three very different markets: Europe, where the focus is on ergonomics and comfort; America, where the emphasis is more on the tractor as a tool, so the focus is on functionality and durability; and Asia, where cost is the most important consideration. “Although customers in Asia are growing so fast, they still need a way to keep costs down,” she says. “For us, the most important thing to continue to be the global leader is to really understand our customers and their needs. Different markets have totally different needs.

“From the consumer technology point of view, I need to step into their shoes. This really isn’t just a product – it is a solution.”

Ms Zhang predicts that Africa will become a big market for terminal tractors: “There is a lot of virgin land and a lot of need. China has been sending tens of thousands of people to develop mining and other activities, and they need terminal tractors. We need to think about their needs too.”