In what it describes as “a powerful step toward a greener future”, Finnish materials handling equipment manufacturer Kalmar has delivered the first electric reach stacker to Belgium.

The reach stacker was delivered to the DFDS Ferry Terminal and Logistics Office in Ghent.

“This marks a significant milestone in our electrification journey, showing the real impact of combining innovation with strong partnerships,” Kalmar states of the delivery.

A Kalmar spokesperson adds: “It is a dream come true to deliver an electric reachstacker that will help to decarbonise”.

“But delivering it to DFDS, who is so dedicated to decarbonisation and will even charge the machine with, among other things, wind power to make it completely green, it is a dream come true,” they add.

Kalmar also presented DFDS with an award for “being an Ambassador regarding decarbonisation”.

This comes as Kalmar announces the corporate climate action group Science Based Target Initiative (SBIT) has approved its near and long-term emissions reduction targets.

“Receiving SBTI validation reflects our sustainability commitment to driving real, science-based actions,” Kalmar CEO Sami Niiranen says.

Kalmar’s near-term, science-based targets set in 2024, include a commitment to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2030 and scope 3 GHG emissions from suppliers, transportation and distribution upstream and downstream by 40%.

Its long-term target is to maintain a minimum of 90% absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from 2030 through 2045, reduce scope 3 GHG emissions by 90% by 2045 and reach net-zero GHG emissions across its value chain by 2045.