Toyota Rolls Out Decarbonised Steel for Warehouse Gear, Slashing CO? by 75%
13.06.2026 - 08:43:24 | boerse-global.de
Mid-June 2026 marks a shift in the material side of intralogistics: Toyota Material Handling has become the first manufacturer to use decarbonised steel in serial production for its warehouse equipment. The special steel is now being deployed in the forks and frames of hand pallet trucks and other electric low-lift models, cutting the carbon footprint of component production by 75%. The company is targeting net-zero emissions by 2041.
The move is part of a broader industry push to reduce the environmental impact of moving heavy goods. In Sweden, a conductive charging system is being tested on a 200-metre electrified road in Ljungby, involving a terminal tractor maker. That pilot, due to wrap up this month, will deliver feasibility results in autumn. Meanwhile, biodegradable hydraulic fluids are gaining traction as an additional green option.
On the automation front, autonomous forklifts are making inroads at car plants in Germany and the US. A new model equipped with a duplex mast capable of lift heights above three metres began deliveries in the first quarter of 2026. The system is expected to be showcased at trade fairs in Switzerland later this summer.
For smaller loads, a new solution for the electronics industry automatically removes and inserts tape-and-reel carriers into feeders. Launched in May 2026, it integrates with existing pick-and-place machines and autonomous mobile robots. In battery-frame manufacturing, automated robotic cells are now producing about 500,000 units a year in Neenstetten, handling spot welding, inspection and manipulation without manual intervention.
Heavy lifting is also getting dedicated attention. New crane systems unveiled for sectors such as the paper industry offer capacities from 15 to 100 tonnes and spans up to 40 metres, with installations already operating in large Chinese paper mills. For precise weight capture, stainless-steel weighing platforms covering 600 kg to 6,000 kg are designed to meet high hygiene standards and offer protection ratings up to IP 69, some with integrated lifting mechanisms. At the lighter end, manual hydraulic stackers with a 200 kg capacity — weighing under 50 kg — remain popular for simple workshop tasks.
Adjacent technologies are evolving too. A leading plant-engineering company presented an optimised rotary coating system whose compact design and new cam-track layout eliminate the need for rotary tables. On the energy-infrastructure side, new connection technologies — including rigid and flexible busbar solutions and specialised battery connectors — debuted at trade fairs in June 2026, targeting modern energy-storage systems. Pipeline-welding specialists are expanding internationally, aiming to boost capacity to secure regional gas supplies.
