Kalmar has introduced a specialized low-noise version of its Kalmar ECG90 electric heavy forklift, designed specifically for ports and terminals located near residential zones. Noise pollution is a major constraint for night-time port operations, often limiting working hours. The new "Silent" model addresses this with two key engineering innovations: an active noise cancellation system for the hydraulic pumps and composite mast bearings.
Traditional electric forklifts are quiet, but the hydraulic pump whine and the metal-on-metal clash of the mast chains are still audible. Kalmar's active noise cancellation uses a microphone in the hydraulic tank to detect the pump frequency and generates an opposing sound wave to cancel it out. Additionally, the steel rollers on the mast have been replaced with a fiber-reinforced composite material that dampens vibration and eliminates the metallic "clanking" sound during lifting and tilting.
The result is an operating noise level of under 60 dB(A), roughly equivalent to a normal conversation. This allows ports to operate heavy container handling shifts throughout the night without violating strict local noise ordinances, effectively expanding terminal capacity by 30%.
