Hyster is celebrating the 70th birthday of its big truck factory in Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands.

The Hyster plant, officially opened by the Nijmegen mayor in 1953, is now the company’s global centre of design, development and testing for its big trucks.

The research and development centre in Nijmegen has been focussing on supporting the transition to zero-emission port equipment, as well as leveraging lithium-ion battery and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Key projects from the in Nijmegen team include a hydrogen fuel cell-powered container handler, currently in testing at the Port of Los Angeles, an empty container handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells for Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, Germany, and a fuel-cell powered reachstacker in development for the Port of Valencia, Spain.

Hyster is developing a 100% battery-powered empty container handler for use by CARU Containers in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Earlier this year, Hyster also previewed a zero-emission terminal tractor which will be powered by Nuvera hydrogen fuel cells and is in development in collaboration with yard truck brand Capacity. 

Hyster senior director of manufacturing and European parts Peter van Sommeren says: “The plant in Nijmegen has always aimed to deliver dependable Hyster big trucks that meet the needs of tough applications and demanding working conditions.

“That we are still here and still innovating new solutions 70 years on is testament to the quality of our manufacturing, and to how well we understand our customers’ ever-changing challenges.”