PRODUCT FOCUS
LEADERS W
PROJECT
The project cargo industry continues to evolve, driven by a surge in renewable energy installations, mining, and infrastructure investments. DLM talks to equipment OEMs about these trends in breakbulk handling and more.
hile container handling is all about throughput, breakbulk brings a very different set of challenges.
Port and terminal operators are often handling large, delicate and expensive items, from wind turbine blades to mining machinery.
Growth drivers Across the board, Greenfield Products is seeing breakbulk handling become more challenging for operators. “The biggest driver we see right now is
the increasing diversity and complexity of breakbulk cargo moving through ports and terminals,” says Anthony Calomino, VP of sales. “Wind energy components continue to be important, but we’re also seeing strong demand tied to infrastructure projects, energy equipment, steel and large industrial machinery.”
This is leading to growth in demand for
problem-solvers like Greenfield Products, which can customise its products. “As cargo becomes larger, heavier and less standardised, operators are placing more emphasis on engineered solutions that can be tailored to specific lift conditions,” adds Calomino. “There’s also a growing focus on reducing manual rigging, improving load control, and enhancing safety, which is accelerating adoption of purpose designed, customisable handling equipment.” Kalmar also sees renewable energy as a big driver in breakbulk. “The wind energy sector continues to show strong demand,” says Hans Larsson, application expert industrial, AMEA and Americas. “As wind turbines increase in size, it necessitates a corresponding scale- up in the machinery to handle these larger components effectively.”
To meet the needs of the renewables industry, Kalmar has partnered with CES to distribute and service CES reachstackers. The CES range has lifting capacities from 120t (264,000lbs) to 380t (837,000lbs) with longer load centres, more outreach and increased lift heights, they are designed for super heavy lifting applications. Wind energy logistics is the most prominent application for the CES range, as the machines can handle wind turbine towers, nacelles and hubs and offshore components. Kalmar’s own electric reachstackers can handle up to 45t, while its Super Gloria reachstacker is designed for breakbulk cargo, at 130t. Meanwhile, its forklifts have lifting capacities up to 85t – and electric forklifts up to 33t.
Conversely, Konecranes believes that mining is the main driver for growth in
Kalmar has partnered with CES to distribute and service the latter’s range of reachstackers. vi | May/June 2026 |
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