Finnish forklift manufacturer Kalmar has inked a rental deal with Australian steelmaker BlueScope for 13 forklifts for use at its Western Port steel processing facility in southern Victoria.

The deal will see BlueScope accept delivery in Q3 2025 of six light electric forklifts, two medium forklifts and five heavy forklifts which will be covered under an eight-year service agreement with Kalmar.

BlueScope’s Western Port manager, Sean Wong, says the electric forklifts will be central to helping the steel processing facility in Hastings, on the shores of Western Port, achieve a significant reduction in emissions.

“At Western Port, we pride ourselves on creating, implementing and upholding environmental standards that are in line with internationally recognised certifications, state government licences and local environment-specific programmes,” Wong continues. 

“Adopting both fuel-efficient diesel-powered and fully electric battery-powered machines from Kalmar represents an important step towards BlueScope’s goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“We look forward to welcoming the machines to Western Port next year.”

In June 2023, BlueScope signed a five-year deal with logistics company Bis for a fleet of electric forklifts to be used at its Port Kembla operations.