Kalmar extends its regional reach to Karratha
The logistics industry is facing unprecedented challenges with evolving sustainability and productivity expectations. Adapting to the evolving world is crucial to future-proofing operations — electrification is pivotal to this.
Kalmar is driving sustainable material handling at the cutting edge of this transformation in an industry where safety and efficiency are paramount.
With the opening of a Karratha branch, Kalmar Oceania is now bringing cutting-edge material handling solutions to the Pilbara’s mining and heavy industry. The new Karratha branch now serves as a comprehensive service, sales and technical hub — delivering Kalmar’s direct OEM advantage with factory-backed technical leadership and global expertise.
Kalmar offers 24/7 specialist maintenance with rapid-response teams to support remote mine sites. This is backed by an extensive genuine parts inventory stocked locally that reduces lead times and ensures maximum uptime.
Specialised heavy electric forklifts
In an industry where safety and efficiency are paramount, the Kalmar heavy electric forklift with a tyre handler attachment offers a purpose-built solution for the Australian mining sector. The machine is engineered directly from the factory to comply with the stringent Mining Design Guidelines (MDG) 15 and MDG 41, ensuring it is prepared for the unique operational demands of mining sites from the moment it is deployed.
For heavy-duty operations, the machine’s capabilities are significant. It can be used as a standard forklift or fitted with a heavy-duty tyre handler. When equipped with the Cascade 100K integral tyre handler, the machine has a rated capacity of 10,500kg at a 2,800mm load centre. This attachment is capable of handling all known off-the-road (OTR) wheel and tyre assemblies.
The forklift’s Li-ion battery solutions, with capacities up to 392kWh, enable it to operate for a full shift, with the possibility of extended use through opportunity charging. The Battery Monitoring System ensures efficient power usage by continuously managing performance and redirecting recovered energy from the regenerative brake system back into the battery packs.
Extreme heat engineering
Kalmar systems are designed to maintain component health and productivity in extreme conditions is maintained through the standard-fitted Thermal Management System. This system keeps the battery core temperature between 25-30°C, ensuring optimal performance even when external temperatures range from -30°C to 40°C. The system is linked to the cabin’s climate control to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling by 5%, further improving overall efficiency.
Kalmar Care services offer proactive care to optimise equipment lifetime and ensure seamless operations with maintenance contracts and customisable service solutions designed for harsh environments.
Safety and readiness
The MDG 15 and MDG 41 guidelines address critical safety issues, with MDG 15 focusing on reducing risks from mobile plant operations and MDG 41 providing best practices for fluid power systems.
The Kalmar ECG 250-12’s design includes factory-integrated features that meet these guidelines, providing a comprehensive approach to risk mitigation. A notable example is its three-zone fire suppression system, which meets the requirements of AS5062.
- Zone 1 handles the driveline and hydraulic system with a fluorine-free agent
- Zone 2 uses gas suppression for the battery distribution boxes
- Zone 3 is a water deluge system designed to flood the battery assembly in the event of a thermal runaway
The Kalmar heavy electric forklift offers a robust, safe and efficient solution that is purpose-built to the specific needs of the Australian mining industry. Its factory-direct MDG compliance and array of safety and ergonomic features make it a suitable choice for modern mining operations focused on productivity and operator well-being.
Kalmar offers a full range of forklifts, reach stackers and terminal tractors remains available to suit all regional needs.
For more information, please contact the Kalmar Oceania team on 1300 KALMAR or visit www.kalmar.com.au
