Driver satisfaction convinces Truckpoolen i Göteborg to order 22 Kalmar forklifts

Kalmar has been awarded an order for 22 forklift trucks from Truckpoolen i Göteborg AB after participating in an intense two-year trial period with multiple manufacturers. The units, each with a five-tonne lifting capacity, will be rented to Volvo Logistics in Gothenburg following their delivery this summer.

“It’s very pleasing that despite the tough competition we were selected as the supplier,” says Kalmar’s Håkan Lorén, Sales Director for Kalmar Sweden.

According to Göran Larsson, CEO of Truckpoolen i Göteborg AB, the deal was preceded by an unusually long test period, during which the company’s drivers expressed a preference for the Kalmar machine due to its state-of-the-art cabin ergonomics.

“For two years, we tested a number of machines with several different manufacturers. Many people voiced their opinions – not least the drivers, whose assessments carry a lot of weight. After all, truck drivers nowadays work inside the cabin for pretty much their entire shift, so it’s really important that the working environment is the best possible.

“Following the testing and evaluation, only Kalmar’s DCE5HM remained in the running.”

According to Jan Ohlsson, Managing Director of Kalmar Sweden, the working environment of Kalmar’s driver cabins are characterised by their high quality, excellent ergonomics and comfort. “It’s great that the result of our work has proven competitive,” he says.

Truckpoolen is a longstanding Kalmar customer – this being the company’s fifth order for Kalmar forklifts.

“We know Kalmar and its products well, which is very important since it is our staff that is responsible for regularly servicing the trucks we have rented out,” says Mr Larsson.

Truckpoolen has a total of 135 trucks on rental to more than 30 customers, of which Volvo Logistics is the biggest.

-ends-

Notes to editor:

Press information can be found on Kalmar's website: www.kalmarind.com. Simply click on News Room to be taken to a list of recent press releases. A photograph to accompany this release is also available on the Kalmar website, by clicking on Press Pictures. The caption for the photograph reads:

"Kalmar's ergonomic driver cabins were pivotal to Truckpoolen i Göteborg's decision to order 22 DCE5HM forklift trucks."

Kalmar is a global provider of container and heavy duty materials handling equipment, automation applications and related services. It is the world's leading supplier of cargo handling equipment to ports, terminals and intermodal facilities.

Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine. The company also supplies a wide range of machines to demanding industrial customers for applications as diverse as handling steel and paper to shunting road trailers at distribution hubs.

Kalmar is also leading the way in port automation applications with its application of unmanned container handling technology, on-board smart features and remote maintenance products developed in co-operation with customers and partners.

Kalmar's product range is complemented by a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Production plants are situated in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, China and the USA. Kalmar's net sales were EUR 1.2 billion in 2006.

Kalmar is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world's leading provider of cargo handling solutions, which are used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centres, and ships. In 2006 Cargotec's net sales were EUR 2.6 billion. Cargotec's class B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.