SSAB and Toyota Material Handling Europe partner to lower the carbon footprint of material handling equipment

Toyota Material Handling, Mjolby, Sweden

Under the agreement Toyota Material Handling Europe secured the delivery of SSAB Zero™ steels, which it will use to produce the forks and frames for hand pallet trucks. The quality and properties of SSAB Zero™ steel are the same as those of SSAB’s conventional steel.

SSAB Zero™ is made using recycled steel and fossil-free energy – which means virtually zero fossil carbon emissions from the SSAB production process. It is the first commercial steel of its kind, available in a number of grades and dimensions.

The material in the forks and frame of the high-volume product LHM230 are to be replaced by SSAB Zero™ which has a 77% reduction of CO2 compared to iron-ore based steel, considering the entire value chain. This initiative is an important step to reduce material emissions and contributes towards Toyota Material Handling Europe’s net zero targets by fiscal year 2041.

“We are happy to work with Toyota in producing the next generation of material handling equipment with a lower carbon footprint. Toyota Material Handling Europe has been our customer via our subsidiary, Tibnor, for over 20 years, and we are ramping up our collaboration based on our mutual trust and common goal of a fossil-free future,” says Tony Harris, Head of SSAB Europe.

Traditional steelmaking represents a significant source of global CO2 emissions. By changing the way steel is produced, SSAB aims to cut emissions and create a fossil-free value chain with customers and partners.

“We aim to be a leader in the sustainable transformation of our value chain and are building a resilient supply chain together with our suppliers,” says Giorgio Polonio, VP Purchasing, Supply at Toyota Material Handling Europe.

Toyota Material Handling Europe is the European headquarters of Toyota Material Handling Group, which is part of Toyota Industries Corporation – the global leader in material handling equipment & solutions. It provides businesses of all sizes, in more than 30 European countries, with a full range of counterbalanced forklift trucks, BT warehouse equipment/services, added-value solutions and innovations. Over 95% of their trucks are manufactured in European factories, in Sweden, France and Italy.

For further information, please contact:
Atte Kaksonen, SSAB Corporate Communications, atte.kaksonen @ ssab.com, tel. + 358 50 3143 634
Mark Peters, Marketing Director, Toyota Material Handling Europe,
mark.peters @ toyota-industries.eu, tel. +32 477 96 47 92