Eco-driving joy at Van Berkel Logistics

Van Berkel Logistics combines storage and transhipment services with transport to and from the Netherlands. The company maintains inland shipping connections between the sea ports and the cities of Veghel and Cuijk, including pre-transport and post-transport via trucks.

Van Berkel Logistics is focused on two main areas of activity: logistics in the field of maritime containers for shippers and forwarders; and logistics of bulk goods and residual flows for companies. It is part of the Van Berkel Group, a family-owned business based in Brabant. Since its founding in 1955, the company has grown into a versatile organisation with more than 180 employees in eight locations and with an extensive machine park.

“It is clear that Kalmar has put a lot of effort into making these reachstackers comfortable as well as eco-efficient.”

The joy of driving 

The company recently upgraded its reachstacker fleet with Kalmar Eco Reachstackers. Roel van Haandel drives one of the Kalmar Eco Reachstackers operated by Van Berkel Logistics and is full of praise for the new machines.

“My initial reaction was very positive,” he says. “It is clear that Kalmar has put a lot of effort into making these reachstackers comfortable as well as eco-efficient.”

When the machines were delivered, van Haandel received driver training to help him get the most from his new operating environment. “It was a challenge to adapt to a new way of working. You have to change your entire thought process when operating a Kalmar Eco reachstacker, so the instruction I received was really helpful.”

The Kalmar Eco reachstacker is an upgrade from the equipment previously used in a number of ways: most notably, it is much quieter due to the insulation in the cabin and reduced engine noise.

The end goal is climate neutrality

Van Berkel has prioritised its goal to become climate neutral and trusts that Kalmar’s Eco Reachstacker with its greater driver comfort and higher overall performance can help them reach it.

Patrick Dammers is operations manager at Van Berkel Logistics, which is certified at the highest level of the CO2 Performance Ladder in the Netherlands. The CO2 Performance Ladder is an initiative managed by the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business that helps organisations to reduce their emissions.

The CO2 Performance Ladder has five levels, from 1 to 5. Dammers explains that the purchase and commissioning of new Kalmar ECO reachstackers was the logical next step in the process of certification at the highest level of sustainability.

“The Eco reachstackers have assisted us in achieving our objective to make container logistics more sustainable. It was time to replace our existing reachstackers with more efficient machines to help us reduce our CO2 emissions and meet our reductions target.”

“The Eco reachstackers have assisted us in achieving our objective to make container logistics more sustainable."

Lower fuel consumption and reduced tyre wear have also reduced the operational costs of the machines compared to older reachstackers.

“Every employee can now view their fuel consumption and can challenge themselves to work as efficiently as possible,” Dammers adds. “Our commitment to the environment is very important for our customers and improves our long term sustainability. Our end goal is to become climate neutral.”

A well designed and comfortable working environment is essential for good performance. When this is coupled with a machine that meets operational targets with minimal environmental impact, the customer will feel they are moving in the right direction.