Cargotec will supply eight dual-purpose Kalmar heavy forklifts to Italian shipping firm Messina Line, which operates out of the Port of Genoa.

Messina ordered the customised Kalmar DCF 420 models to operate on four new ships, which it is adding to its fleet. The first forklifts are scheduled for delivery this month with the rest to follow in November. The order's value is confidential.

According to Cargotec, Messina conducted an extensive evaluation of equipment on the market and a thorough reference process before selecting Cargotec for the highly specialised application.

Thomas Malmborg, vice president for forklifts at Cargotec, says the company worked closely with Messina to meet its requirements. "As a result, we have developed a tailor-made product that will meet the material handling needs of this world-leading shipping firm - both in terminals and on-board the ships."

Cargotec Italy sales manager Elio Crovetto says the contract is a result of more than a year of close cooperation with Messina. "By evaluating the customer's needs, we have been able to offer them the right solution. The result is eight heavy forklifts specially adapted for this versatile operation. This order further strengthens Cargotec's presence in Italy."

Due to the physical constraints of Messina's new ships' RoRo holds, the Kalmar heavy forklifts' mast had to be less than 5,350 mm (17.6 ft.) and capable of lifting 33 T. They have been equipped with extra low triplex free lift masts to operate inside the vessels' confined spaces and the customisation actually delivers a capacity of 42 T.

The forklifts also have a specialist carriage with a sideshifter, a fork positioner, a fork shaft system and 110 mm (4.3 in.) long forks. For yard operations, the forklifts have to handle up to 35 T and be able to stack four-containers high. The DCF 420 forklift was fitted with inverted forks and a 20/40 top lift spreader.

Messina Line was founded in 1921. It is a global business with more than 1,000 employees and an annual turnover exceeding EUR300 million (USD408 million). Its four latest ships join an existing fleet of 14 specialist RoRo container vessels, which makes it the world's second largest container operator. It performs liner services between the main ports in the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.