Cutting the ribbon on a long-held dream

The day kicked off with customers exploring the latest solutions at the Innovation Centre. Later on, the rain could not dampen the celebratory mood as guests, partners, and colleagues gathered for the main event. Following a warm welcome from Alf-Gunnar Karlgren (President, Counterbalanced) and Thomas Malmborg (President, Services), attendees headed outside to view the test track and an impressive machine lineup.

A long-held dream brought to life

For Alf-Gunnar, the opening was a deeply personal and emotional moment. The idea of automating machine testing was first discussed over a decade ago. Henrik Wanfors (Head of Process, Support and Testing) reflected on the whirlwind 12 months it took to build the state-of-the-art facility, which brings together incredible technical capabilities.

The centre features a wheel-based hub dynamometer, a 45-tonne load handling system, and a climate chamber that shifts from Arctic freezing to desert heat. This setup allows Kalmar to run accelerated, 24/7 unattended durability tests on both electric and diesel machines, significantly speeding up product refinement.

Investing in sustainable innovation

As the industry’s first fully automated test centre of its kind, the facility is a genuine game changer. Sami Niiranen, President and CEO of Kalmar, summed it up perfectly by noting that Kalmar is not just following the future, but actively shaping it. Board Chair Jaakko Eskola and Ljungby municipality representative Maria Arnholm both highlighted how the investment arms employees with world-class tools while honouring the region’s rich engineering heritage.

The project also showcased a brilliant partnership. Andreas Schilp from RENK, who supplied the world's most powerful test rig, praised the seamless teamwork that delivered the project on schedule. It was a collaboration built entirely on mutual trust and pragmatism.

Seeing the centre in action 

Following the official ribbon cutting, guests were treated to an exclusive live demonstration of a Kalmar Electric Reachstacker being put through its paces inside the facility. 

With the Test Centre now fully operational, Kalmar is perfectly positioned to push the boundaries of sustainable innovation and deliver faster, more rigorous product development for years to come.