Kalmar is building – and selling! – these massive electric reach stackers in China
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- Kalmar began building its 45-ton ERG450 electric reach stackers at a Shanghai manufacturing plant in 2023, and just announced four new orders to close out Q2 from customers in Mongolia, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
- The four new machines are the first units to feature Kalmar's next-generation lithium-ion battery packs, which replace the company's typical lead-acid packs and deliver enhanced energy capacity, improved thermal stability, and faster DC charging.
- John Zhang, Managing Director of Kalmar's Shanghai plant, said the orders "reflect the accelerating adoption of electrified heavy machinery across China" and demonstrate the strategic importance of the recently expanded Shanghai facility.
- Kalmar calls the ERG450 its most sustainable reach stacker to date, citing at least 50% recycled steel in manufacturing and a new counterweight made from unprocessed, emission-reducing materials that are naturally heavy.
- Alex Tang, VP of Kalmar Greater China, said the company is "ready to support customers in their long-term energy transition" and help build viable roadmaps for electrification of their equipment fleets.
Why it matters: Four orders spanning Mongolia, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hong Kong give Kalmar its first commercial foothold in China's cargo-handling electrification push, while the new li-ion battery packs narrow the operational gap with diesel via faster DC charging. The recycled-steel and low-carbon counterweight design also lets fleet operators hit sustainability procurement targets without sacrificing duty cycle.
