Manitou Group has signed a letter of intent with the Nordic steelmaker SSAB for deliveries of fossil-free steel. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2026 and ramp up as SSAB’s fossil-free steel production capacity increases. This agreement meets the ambitions of both companies to significantly reduce their direct and indirect carbon emissions.

As Manitou’s supplier, SSAB is a highly-specialised global steel company that develops high-strength steels and provides services for better performance and sustainability. The two companies are now furthering their collaboration by adding future deliveries of SSAB Fossil-free and SSAB Zero steel to the mix.

Both steel types are produced with virtually zero fossil carbon emissions, which will allow Manitou to bring to market a new generation of sustainable products with radically reduced CO2 footprint, such as telehandler, aerial work platform or forklift ranges.

SSAB aims to revolutionise the entire steelmaking process and be the first to offer emission-free steel to the market at a commercial scale in 2026. At the same time, 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.

“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,” said Maurizio Achilli, VP sourcing at Manitou Group.

Image: Viveka Osterman