EUROPE

Kalmar trailblazes hybrid technology

19 years ago

Leading port equipment manufacturer Kalmar is ploughing ahead with research and development on hybrid technology in a bid to be ahead of the environmental protection game.

Port Strategy: since the late 1990s, Kalmar has been developing a range of 'green' machines

Leif Wallin, president of trailer handling for the Finland-headquartered company, confirmed that Kalmar is “involved in hybrids in a couple of projects”, working with the US Environmental Protection Agency in the ports of Long Beach and New Jersey.

“However,” he said, “the technology is not really viable for the market from a cost point of view. But we are at the forefront and there will be developments over the next couple of years.”

Stefan Johansson, vice president of product development at Kalmar, added: “The technology is there for hybrids, but not for the size of port machines. At the moment it is not cost effective, but customers will want to pay for the environment eventually… or they will be forced to pay.”

Meanwhile, discussing Kalmar’s icon terminal tractors, trailer handling general manager Timo Matikainen described these as “exciting times for the factory.

“We are working on new models all the time and there will be new launches coming up,” he revealed, adding that Kalmar expects to stop selling old models next year to concentrate on sales of its innovative imodels.