Kalmar electric forklifts contribute to development of timber logistics in Central Europe
Pfeifer Group, a leading wood processing company in Europe, is gradually transforming its logistics on the basis of the circular economy. It pays particular attention to shifting more freight from road to rail as well as deploying zero-emission lifting equipment at its facilities in Central Europe. And Kalmar electric forklift is an important part of this policy.
For almost a decade, the Pfeifer Group (Pfeifer) has been developing rail logistics for its wood products in Central Europe, particularly in Austria, Germany and Czechia. Europe’s leading wood processing company transports around 1 million tonnes of its goods per year. It is planning to double this number in the coming three-four years.
Forklifts play a significant role in loading and unloading operations at the company’s terminals in the mentioned countries, namely in handling lumber and wood products. Since 1994, Pfeifer purchased more than 100 forklift trucks from Kalmar, the Sweden-based subsidiary of Cargotec. Previously, the wood manufacturer was focused on diesel vehicles, now it is ordering the battery-powered ones trying to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.
In the third quarter of the current year, Pfeifer will add three new Kalmar medium electric forklifts with a lifting capacity of up to 18 tonnes to its fleet. They will run at its three locations: two vehicles will work at its sites in Imst and Kundl in Austria, while the third one will be operated in Chanovice, Czechia. “Fully electric forklift trucks fit perfectly with our strategy to pursue 100 per cent added value from the wood raw material we use and our resource-saving circular economy approach to business,” said Georg Horngacher, Pfeifer’s head of maintenance.