What ELME does

ELME Spreader AB is an independent industrial manufacturer of container spreaders and lifting equipment, founded in 1974 in Älmhult, Sweden by Gösta Karlsson. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, assembles and tests all of its products in-house at a single facility in Älmhult, controlling the full production cycle for spreaders that each comprise more than 3,000 parts. Its portfolio spans crane spreaders (Vectrix series for RMG/RTG cranes, plus 8810/8915 for mobile harbor cranes), truck and reach-stacker spreaders (Pioneer series with 55-tonne capacity, plus the INNOVATION line and 8110E/8215E all-electric models), straddle carrier and piggyback attachments, ATEX-classified special equipment, and the ELME+ aftermarket range of genuine parts and pre-packaged service kits.

The company generates revenue primarily through B2B hardware sales of these spreaders to port terminal operators, logistics and intermodal operators, and OEM crane manufacturers, supplemented by recurring aftermarket parts revenue via the ELME+ Servicebox, Service Kit and Add-on Kit lines. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven: ELME maintains direct sales from headquarters, regional spare parts offices in Shanghai and Martin, Tennessee, and a recurring presence at TOC Europe, Breakbulk Americas and other container-handling exhibitions. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company claims to have delivered over 29,000 spreaders across all seven continents over 52 years and is ISO 9001 and ISO 3834-2 certified.

Name

ELME

Legal name

ELME Spreader AB

Website

https://elme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ELME Spreader AB is a Sweden-based independent manufacturer of heavy-duty container spreaders and lifting equipment for ports, intermodal terminals, and crane OEMs, with 100% in-house production in Älmhult and global sales across seven continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Container Handling Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

Keywords

• Container spreaders
• Industrial lifting equipment
• Port equipment manufacturing
• Intermodal handling equipment
• Container handling solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Älmhult

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Container Spreader Equipment Sales: ELME generates primary revenue from the design, manufacture, and sale of container spreaders for various applications including crane spreaders, truck/reach stacker spreaders, straddle carriers, and special equipment. The company sells directly to port operators, logistics companies, and equipment manufacturers globally.
2. Genuine Parts and Aftermarket: Revenue from ELME+ aftermarket range including Servicebox, Service Kit, and Add-on Kit for existing spreaders. Serviceboxes contain all recommended spare parts for specific hour intervals (e.g., 5,000 hours service) bundled as single part numbers for easy ordering.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ELME Spreader designs, manufactures, and sells container spreaders and lifting equipment used in port, intermodal, and container handling operations worldwide. The product portfolio includes crane spreaders, truck/reach stacker spreaders, straddle carrier attachments, piggyback attachments, and special equipment such as ATEX-classified units, with lifting capacities up to 55 tonnes. The company also sells aftermarket genuine parts and service kits under the ELME+ brand to support its installed base.

Product overview

ELME Spreader is the world's leading independent container spreader manufacturer, producing a comprehensive portfolio of spreader solutions for container handling operations. The product line includes Crane Spreaders (Vectrix series for RMG/RTG cranes, and models like 8810/8915 for mobile harbor cranes), Truck Spreaders (including the new Pioneer series with 55-tonne capacity for reach stackers and lift trucks), Straddle Carrier attachments, Piggyback Attachments, and Special Equipment (including ATEX-classified units). The company also offers the ELME+ aftermarket range comprising Servicebox (pre-packaged spare parts kits), Service Kit, and Add-on Kit for post-purchase customization. All spreaders are manufactured in-house at the Älmhult, Sweden facility, with recent additions including the electric spreader series (8110E/8215E) for RTG/RMG/ARMG cranes and the INNOVATION series featuring lighter and stronger designs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pioneer: Heavy duty telescopic top lift spreader series with 55-tonne capacity, designed for demanding container handling operations. Models include Pioneer 817 for reach stackers and Pioneer 818 for gantry-mounted lift trucks.
• Vectrix
• ELME+

Products and services

• Crane Spreaders Telescopic top lift spreaders designed for mounting on RMG, RTG, and mobile harbour cranes for intermodal handling of laden ISO containers and trailers. Intended for port terminal operators, intermodal facilities, and crane OEMs.
• Truck Spreaders Top lift spreaders designed for mounting on reach stackers and lift trucks for container handling operations. Includes heavy-duty models with lifting capacity up to 55 tonnes. Intended for logistics operators, container depots, and intermodal facilities.
• Straddle Carriers Spreader solutions designed for mounting on straddle carriers for container handling operations. Intended for equipment OEMs and port operators using straddle carrier fleets.
• Special Equipment Customized spreader solutions for specialized container handling requirements, including ATEX-classified equipment for explosive atmospheres and bespoke adaptations for unique operational constraints. Intended for specialized industrial and hazardous environment operators.
• Piggyback Attachments Piggyback-style spreader attachments designed for intermodal container and trailer handling operations. Intended for intermodal terminals handling both containers and trailers.
• Pioneer Series (817 & 818) Heavy duty telescopic top lift spreader series for demanding container handling operations, lifting laden ISO containers up to 55 tonnes. Pioneer 817 for reach stackers and Pioneer 818 for gantry-mounted lift trucks. Three configurations available: 55-tonne capacity, 45-tonne durability configuration, and 45ft lift position. Intended for heavy-duty container handling operations.
• Vectrix Crane Spreader Series New series of crane spreaders featuring telescopic piggyback top lift spreaders with two parallel beams for intermodal handling of laden ISO containers and trailers up to 45 tonnes, designed for mounting on RMG or RTG cranes. Includes central concept of vector meets matrix for strength, durability, and smart mechanics. Intended for port terminals and intermodal facilities.
• 8610 Vectrix Telescopic piggyback top lift spreader for intermodal handling of laden ISO containers and trailers up to 45 tonnes, designed for RMG or RTG cranes. Features 20ft and 40ft telescopic positions. Intended for port terminals and intermodal operations.
• 8615 Vectrix Telescopic piggyback top lift spreader for intermodal handling of laden ISO containers and trailers up to 45 tonnes, designed for RMG or RTG cranes. Features 20ft, 40ft, and 45ft telescopic positions. Intended for port terminals and intermodal operations.
• 818 Pioneer Gantry mounted top lift heavy duty spreader for laden container handling, lifting ISO containers up to 55 tonnes. Features reinforced design, mechanical pile slope (MPS), powered pile slope (PPS) option, four vertical pendular ISO twistlocks, and CAN 2.0B communication. Intended for gantry-mounted lift truck operations at container terminals.
• 8810 Crane Spreader Telescopic top lift spreader for handling laden ISO containers up to 41 tonnes, designed for mounting on Mobile Harbor Cranes. Features 20 and 40ft telescopic positions. Used by Port of Karlshamn for ship-to-shore container handling operations.
• 8915 Crane Spreader Telescopic top lift spreader for handling laden ISO containers up to 41 tonnes, designed for mounting on Mobile Harbor Cranes. Features 20, 40, and 45ft telescopic positions.
• 508 Truck Spreader Fixed end lift spreader for empty ISO container handling. Designed for integration on lift truck mast, handling empty 20ft ISO containers from the short side with hydraulic bottom support and sideshift. Intended for empty container handling operations at depots and terminals.
• 8110E All-Electric Spreader All-electric spreader for RTG, RMG and ARMG/ASC cranes, handling laden 20-40ft ISO containers up to 40 tonnes. Used by Metrans Budapest rail hub terminal. Designed for energy-efficient operation at intermodal and rail facilities.
• 8215E All-Electric Spreader All-electric spreader for RTG, RMG and ARMG/ASC cranes, handling containers up to 45ft with lifting capacity up to 40 tonnes. Designed for energy-efficient operation at intermodal and rail facilities.
• 8290E ATEX-Classified Spreader All-electric ATEX-classified crane spreader equipped with corner flippers, classified for Group II Equipment (surface industry), Category 3, Gas Group IIB and Temperature Class T4 for explosive atmospheres. Used by Germsheim Container Terminal for container handling in areas containing highly explosive substances.
• 8165H Intermodal Hybrid Spreader Intermodal hybrid spreader for container handling at rail hub terminals. Installed on new intermodal cranes at Containerterminal Wolfurt. Designed for intermodal terminal operations.
• 588TB Truck Spreader Truck spreader with hook-on interface for fork carrier systems on Meclift machines. Used by Oy Meclift (Finland) and distributed to end customers including Greenlight (Krasnojarsk, Russia).
• ELME Genuine Parts Original spare parts including twistlocks, hooks, cylinders, and wear pads manufactured in-house at the Älmhult, Sweden facility with full traceability from raw material to delivered part. Available globally through regional spare parts offices.
• ELME+ Servicebox Pre-packaged genuine spare parts kits for specific spreader models, containing all recommended parts for scheduled maintenance intervals (e.g., 5,000 hours service). Bundled as single part numbers for easy ordering. Intended for existing ELME spreader owners performing preventive maintenance.
• ELME+ Service Kit Service kits containing selected genuine parts for preventive maintenance of ELME spreaders. Intended for existing ELME spreader owners performing preventive maintenance.
• ELME+ Add-on Kit Add-on kits for adding options to spreaders after initial purchase, providing flexibility for customer needs. Intended for existing ELME spreader owners seeking to upgrade or expand functionality.
• 817 INNOVATION New Generation 817 INNOVATION spreader, described as lighter and stronger than previous models with 30% increased life expectancy. Telescopic top lift spreader for reach stacker container handling.
• 818 INNOVATION 818 INNOVATION model added to the INNOVATION series of telescopic top lift spreaders for container handling operations.
• 857 INNOVATION 857 INNOVATION model added to the INNOVATION series of telescopic top lift spreaders for container handling operations.
• Coil Hook 719RS Coil hook 719RS introduced to the special equipment category for specialized industrial handling applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55-tonne lifting capacity for heaviest container handling operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KonecranescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELME assisted Konecranes with expertise in container handling by supplying a bespoke spreader solution (Crane Spreader Model 5100) to meet Cogent's requirements for their rooftop container depot project in Singapore.
• KünzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKünz installs ELME spreaders on cranes at various terminals. ELME delivered ATEX classified Crane Spreader (8290E) for Germsheim Container Terminal and intermodal hybrid spreaders (8165H) for Containerterminal Wolfurt. Künz also received ELME 8110E all-electric spreaders for Metrans Budapest installation.
• Mobicon SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELME spreader attached to Mobicon ECO Straddle Carrier Series ECO Top Lift. Positive feedback received on the 1 over 1 option with ELME telescopic spreader, with clients recognizing long-term benefits of low maintenance costs and increased reliability.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SANY: SANY is a major Chinese manufacturer of port equipment including reach stackers, empty container handlers, and heavy lifting machinery. While not focused exclusively on spreaders like ELME, it competes in adjacent container handling categories serving similar terminal operator and intermodal customers, often on price-competitive bids.
• Liebherr: Liebherr manufactures ship-to-shore cranes, mobile harbour cranes, and integrated container handling equipment including spreaders for ports worldwide. As a much larger broad-line OEM, it competes with ELME in the integrated spreader-plus-crane market and serves the same global terminal operator customer base.
• ZPMC (Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries): ZPMC is the world's largest manufacturer of port cranes and ship-to-shore equipment, including container spreaders, serving most major Chinese and many international terminals. Its scale and integrated offering make it a broad incumbent that competes with ELME on large port and intermodal projects globally.
• Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: Hyster-Yale (Hyster, Yale, Nuvera, Maximal) manufactures container handling equipment including empty container handlers and reach stackers with integrated spreaders. It serves ports, intermodal yards, and logistics operators as a broad-line material handling incumbent with substantial scale advantage versus ELME's specialized focus.

Direct peers

• Konecranes: Konecranes is a major port-equipment manufacturer and lift-truck supplier that both competes with and purchases from ELME (notably the bespoke 5100 spreader for the Cogent Singapore rooftop depot). Its Port Solutions segment supplies spreaders, RTG/RMG cranes, and reach stackers to overlapping global port and intermodal customers.
• Cargotec (Kalmar / Bromma): Cargotec owns Bromma, historically the other major independent container spreader manufacturer before being acquired. Bromma remains the closest direct competitor to ELME in telescopic top-lift spreaders for ship-to-shore and yard cranes, serving the same port terminal and intermodal operator customer base with overlapping product portfolios.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInse.linkedin.com/company/elme-spreader-ab

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ELME