Logistics company Bis will supply an electric fleet of machinery, including electric forklifts, to BlueScope’s Port Kembla operations after winning a five-year contract with the steelmaker.

Bis chief executive officer Simon Atkinson says the contract to supply battery-powered high-capacity forklifts and associated maintenance services complements BlueScope’s climate strategy and decarbonisation pathway.

“The new electric forklifts … will represent up to 63% of the new forklifts that are being rolled out, and our aim is to keep the fleet evolving,” Atkinson says.

“Their configurations have been optimised specifically for BlueScope. Options include small footprint, flameproof specifications, custom mast heights, extra wide carriages and thin tynes with chisel tips, dual drive tyres and a variety of specialised attachments.”

A reliability coordinator will provide performance metrics, insight into continuous improvement initiatives for additional sustainable savings and support for site trials and training.

Mobilisation of the new contract commences in July 2024.

BlueScope Australian steel products contract manager David King says the new electric fleet will help the company in its bid to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12% by 2030.

“We aim to create carbon efficient and climate-resilient solutions for our customers and to make this a reality we have set a goal of Net Zero GHG emissions across our operations by 2050,” King says.

“This will only come about as a result of working collaboratively with innovative partners and suppliers, like Bis, to challenge the status quo and enable ideas to materialise across all facets of the steelmaking process.”