Manitou signs fossil free steel deal

Manitou Group has signed a deal with Nordic steelmaker SSAB for deliveries of fossil-free steel.

Deliveries are set to start in 2026 and ramp up as SSAB’s fossil-free steel production capacity increases, with the agreement meeting the ambitions of the two companies to significantly reduce their direct and indirect carbon emissions.

Future deliveries will include SSAB’s fossil-free and Zero steel both of which are produced with virtually zero fossil carbon emissions. Manitou Group said this allowed it to bring to market a new generation of sustainable products with radically reduced CO2 footprint, including telehandlers, aerial platforms or forklift ranges.

“We’re excited about adding Manitou Group as a fossil-free partner to SSAB. Our goal is to revolutionise the way steel is produced and pave the way for a greener future. Thanks to customers like Manitou Group who share our ambition of reducing carbon emissions, we’re able to create early markets for sustainable steel,” said Olavi Huhtala, Executive VP and Head of SSAB Europe.

SSAB aims to transform its entire steelmaking process, according to Manitou, and be the first to offer emission-free steel to the market at a commercial scale in 2026. Manitou aims to reduce its direct and indirect carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 46.3% and its CO2 emissions for every hour of use of the machines by 33.7 % (scope 3) by 2030.

Maurizio Achilli, VP Sourcing at Manitou Group added, “We work every day closely with our suppliers to reduce our indirect carbon emissions and offer more sustainable products to our customers. This collaboration with SSAB is very important for us as steel represents the main raw material for our products.”

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