Global heavy materials handling solutions provider Kalmar has received EUR20 million (USD21.6 million) in funding for a five-year Move2Green research and development program.

The funding was awarded to help develop low-emission and intelligent materials handling solutions, under Business Finland’s Leading Company Competition. 

“Business Finland offers partnership funding for research, development, and innovation projects in leading companies' ecosystem themes,” the organisation states.

Kalmar says the goal of its Move2Green program is to advance carbon neutrality in heavy materials handling by developing data-driven services and its electric equipment portfolio.

Kalmar states: “The vision of the program is to enable our customers’ net-zero logistics chain in ports, terminals, and other heavy industrial logistics by 2045.”

Kalmar president and CEO, Sami Niiranen, explains the Move2Green program is “building an ecosystem for the green transition”.

“Heavy material handling is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, and we have a unique opportunity to reduce the environmental impact caused by the use of our active installed base of 68,000 machines,” Niiranen continues. 

“The demand for electric equipment is growing, and our customers are increasingly seeking sustainable solutions. To ensure success, we need a broad ecosystem to develop intelligent charging solutions, software and equipment to accelerate this transformation.”