(PORTSMOUTH, VA – March 1, 2018) – The City of Portsmouth’s Department of Economic Development announced Kalmar USA Inc., a cargo handling solutions business, will expand its operations in Portsmouth’s Midtown business district in March 2018. Kalmar USA Inc., an independent business within the parent company Cargotec, will expand its footprint in Portsmouth by leasing property on Watson Street. It will provide parts, service, maintenance and repair of forklifts and other lifting equipment. “This is big news for Portsmouth,” said Mayor John L. Rowe. “Kalmar USA Inc., expanding its operations in the Midtown section of the city, adds diversity to the commercial mix in the area, creates new jobs and economic investment.” Kalmar USA Inc. is a market leader in cargo handling equipment, port automation and services. One in four containers moved around the globe is being handled by a Kalmar USA Inc. solutions.

“Kalmar’s strategic decision to locate in the City of Portsmouth allows the company to leverage the growth at The Port of Virginia and the expanding maritime cargo industry in the harbor,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “We have 16 Kalmar USA Inc. shuttle carriers being delivered to the Virginia International Gateway over the next two months to help support our capacity expansion project there, so it will be to our advantage to have them as a neighbor. Most importantly, the decision brings jobs and economic investment to our region and the Commonwealth.” Kalmar USA Inc.’s Portsmouth location will specifically be used for repairing cranes, spreaders and other industrial equipment. The Miller Group will be doing the build-out of the property.

“The Miller Group is extremely pleased to have an industry leader such as Kalmar locate at 3115 Watson Street. Kalmar is a great win for the city and will add to the rich history of Portsmouth as a port community,” stated Jerry Miller, The Miller Group CEO. The Miller Group will manage the construction and asset on behalf of Ellicott 77, LLC.

Kalmar USA Inc. is the industry forerunner in port automation and energy-efficient cargo handling. Its innovation lead the company to develop the first industrial straddle carrier in the 1940s and the first RoRo tractor in the 1970s. To meet the need for more efficient container handling, Kalmar commercialized the first generation of reach-stackers in the 80s, and a decade later, introduced the first container handler for rough terrain operations. These innovations and others revolutionized the cargo and container handling industries.

For more information, contact Director of Economic Development Robert D. Moore at robert.moore@portsmouthva.gov or 757-393-8804.