Finnish cargo handler Kalmar is in the mix for a very different type of project compared to its normal logistics fare, namely US president Donald Trump’s wall along the Mexican border.
Next Wednesday is the deadline for companies to submit concept papers on how to construct the giant wall, with Kalmar, part of the Cargotec empire, proposing containers could be used.
Stephen Speakes, the president of Kalmar Rough Terrain (RT) Center located in Cibolo Texas, has submitted an idea to the contest, based on which shipping containers could be used as building blocks for building the wall and that durable Kalmar rough terrain handlers would be suitable for this purpose. Additionally he has commented that there are plenty of surplus shipping containers that would be sensible to use for building the wall.
“Cargotec is constantly looking for new ways to grow its business and entrepreneurship and innovation are part of Cargotec’s corporate values. Mr Speakes aims to grow the business of Kalmar rough terrain handlers with this business idea,” a spokesperson for the company in Helsinki told Splash today, stressing: “Cargotec acts purely from a business basis and does not take part in political activity.”
Commenting via Twitter on the news, Olaf Merk, the ports and shipping expert of the International Transport Forum at the OECD, noted the irony of using “the unique connector of countries” – shipping containers – to close the US – Mexico border.
Great Idea, I would love to know the cost