Electric Forklift Proves Its Strength at the Oulu Sawmill

Can a fully electric forklift really replace diesel in heavy-duty material handling? At Adolf Lahti, the answer is clear: yes, it can.

At Stora Enso’s Oulu sawmill, a fully electric Kalmar forklift has been in operation for two years and has already logged more than 5,000 operating hours. Experience has shown that the electric forklift handles demanding tasks just as efficiently as its diesel counterpart—without compromising performance or reliability.

Adolf Lahti is responsible for the logistics of finished sawn timber throughout the entire supply chain, from the sawmill to the Port of Oulu. When material flow must run without interruption, equipment is expected to deliver both high performance and dependable reliability.

In this video, Adolf Lahti forklift operator Juuso Lehtomäki shares his firsthand experiences of operating the electric forklift in an interview with Janne Jokela, journalist at Metsäalan Ammattilehti.

In practice, a single charge lasts for two full shifts, with the battery being topped up during breaks. The electric forklift has also proven reliable in winter conditions, and during the past two years, not a single technical fault has interrupted its operation.

“The electric forklift has shown that there’s no need to compromise on performance. It does the same job as a diesel forklift—but more quietly.”

Beyond performance, the electric forklift also improves the driver’s working environment. Its quiet cab, good ergonomics, and smooth handling make long shifts more comfortable.

The electric forklift is part of Adolf Lahti’s and KWH Logistics’ long-term commitment to lower-emission logistics. At the same time, it demonstrates that more sustainable solutions can also meet the high performance and reliability requirements of heavy industry.

Watch the video to see how the electric forklift has transformed the driver’s daily work and why it has proven to be an effective solution for demanding sawmill logistics.