Cargotec as an investment

R&D investments 

Research and product development expenditure in 2021 totalled EUR 102 million, representing 3.1  percent of sales. Research and development investments were focused on themes supporting climate targets such as digitalisation, electrification, automation and robotisation as well as projects that aim to improve the competitiveness and cost efficiency of products.

R&D in business areas in 2021

Kalmar

• The year 2021 marked a considerable milestone for Kalmar as its entire portfolio became available as electrically powered versions.
• Kalmar and Nokia announced that they will expand their ongoing collaboration to provide new solutions for ports and intermodal terminal operators seeking to automate operations and achieve greater productivity.
• A new stand-alone 5G network was implemented for Kalmar’s Technology and Competence Centre in Tampere, Finland, together with Telia and Telia's partners Digita and Nokia. With the network, Kalmar can develop new integrated solutions for the product development of communication and cargo handling technologies.
• Kalmar introduced two service solutions, Kalmar Modernisation Services and Kalmar Remote Services, for manual and automated container terminals.
• Kalmar introduced a new generation of Kalmar Rubber-tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs).
• Kalmar opened a new sales and service support centre in Stargard, Poland.
• Kalmar released MyKalmar, a new platform for Kalmar’s digital services.
• Kalmar launched three new 100-percent electrically powered solutions: Kalmar Electric Reachstacker, Kalmar Electric Heavy Forklift and Kalmar Ottawa Electric Terminal Tractor.
• Kalmar announced the Kalmar Robotic Portfolio, which is a future range of intelligent, flexible and autonomous mobile equipment solutions.
• Kalmar launched Kalmar Tracker, an automated container information solution for reachstackers, designed to enable safer and more efficient management of container movements.
• Kalmar signed a joint development agreement with Coast Autonomous Inc. to speed up the development and launch of robotic solutions across the mobile equipment offering. Kalmar also became a minority shareholder of Coast Autonomous.

Hiab

• Hiab launched the HookTop system to be used with MULTILIFT Ultima hooklifts.
• Hiab launched the EFFER 1000 loader crane, a 90 tonne metre (tm) crane that weighs only 9,500 kg but delivers the same performance as bigger cranes, thereby reducing emissions and cost of ownership.
• Hiab launched tail lift brand ZEPRO’s next generation heavy-duty slider lifts for heavy goods vehicles and trailers.
• Hiab’s WALTCO launched an FM1000 liftgate that functions as a combined rear door and liftgate.
• Hiab announced an investment to develop a new multi-assembly unit in Dundalk, Ireland, for its MOFFETT and PRINCETON truck-mounted forklift manufacturing operations. The new facility will include manufacturing operations and a global hub for innovation and R&D.
• Hiab expanded manufacturing of truck-mounted forklifts in Streetsboro, US, delivering the first MOFFETT installation at the end of September.
• Hiab launched HIAB iQ.1188 HiPro with the company’s new SPACEevo control system to deliver new productivity and safety benefits.

MacGregor

• MacGregor continued to participate in a collaborative research project sponsored by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, focused on the viability and potential for remotely operated tugboats.
• MacGregor focused on developing an unmanned robotic handover system that establishes a safe towing connection. The project benefits from MacGregor’s Marine Data Engine in managing bi-directional data flow to enable remote control of the towing process.
• MacGregor's participation in the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation funded Aegis and Moses projects reached midway point, with preparation for full testing of a scale electric crane and spreader underway.
• MacGregor How2 application’s prototype was further improved. The application provides step-by-step maintenance instructions, animated AR visualisations, as well as 2D and 3D CAD models in a single, easy to understand user platform.
• MacGregor introduced the next generation of variable frequency drive (VFD) electric cranes and the fully electrically driven heavy lift crane as new members of its heavy lift crane family.
  MacGregor’s digital twin capability focuses on virtual model design optimisation and supporting more efficient equipment operation. Its development progressed well during the year, with the first simulation-based training package being planned for delivery to an offshore wind vessel operator.