MacGregor - Experts & Thought Leaders

Event location Webinar (9 CET and 16 CET) Event date 20 May 2025 Join them for the GravityVibe Webinar on 20 May. Discover how MacGregor’s GravityVibe self-unloading system is setting a new standard in bulk cargo handling.  On 20 May, they will host two webinar sessions to suit different time zones: Session 1: 09:00 CEST | 15:00 SGT/CST Session 2: 10:00 EDT | 16:00 CEST | 22:00 SGT/CST Key benefits of GravityVibe In this upcoming webinar, MacGregor’s experts will share the latest results from the full-scale test rig, providing real-world validation of the GravityVibe self-unloading system. They will focus on demonstrating the key benefits of GravityVibe, including enhanced efficiency, improved safety, and reduced environmental impact in bulk cargo operations. Reserve the spot and learn how GravityVibe is shaping the future of bulk unloading.

Funds advised by Triton have signed an agreement to acquire MacGregor, a pioneer in maritime cargo handling, from its parent company - Cargotec Corporation.  The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close by July 1st, 2025. Following completion, Triton intends to form a standalone company. Maritime transportation Triton has pioneering experience in carving out businesses from blue-chip corporates MacGregor employs about 1,800 people across 30 countries and is providing integrated cargo and load handling solutions and services designed to perform at sea for the maritime transportation and offshore industries.  Triton has pioneering experience in carving out businesses from blue-chip corporates – such as Bosch, Siemens, Volkswagen and others – and building them into successful standalone companies. Almost half of all Triton Mid-Market investments made since inception have been carve-outs. Triton’s investment focus Ilkka Tuominen, Investment Advisory Professional at Triton, said: "MacGregor stands out due to its engineering capabilities; broad and sustainable product offering; high-quality equipment; and strong reputation." Ilkka Tuominen adds,"Triton looks forward to collaborating with the company and its employees to develop further on this market-pioneering position, especially by strengthening the aftermarket platform, where we see great potential. MacGregor is at the core of Triton’s investment focus to acquire market-pioneering companies with strong potential and a competitive edge." Hiab’s ambitious growth plans Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Cargotec Corporation, said: "The agreement to sell MacGregor represents the last major milestone in our project to unlock shareholder value by separating Cargotec’s businesses into standalone companies. The two-year project has progressed according to our plan and is now in its final stages." Casimir Lindholm adds, "The proceeds from the Transaction will boost Hiab’s ambitious growth plans through innovation and M&A. MacGregor will become a strategic asset for its new owner who will develop and put full focus on the business, which will enable further growth and profitability improvement."

Cargotec Corporation has signed an agreement to sell its MacGregor business area to funds managed by Triton, for an enterprise value of EUR 480 million (“the Transaction”) to support Hiab’s future growth. Cargotec’s shareholders Transformation into a standalone Hiab is expected to take place on 1 April 2025. Cargotec’s transformation project, including listing Kalmar as a separate company, preparing Hiab for its standalone future and finding a solution for MacGregor, has progressed according to the plan and targets set by the Board in 2023. After considering different alternatives, the Board is convinced that from the value creation perspective, the Transaction represents the best alternative for Cargotec’s shareholders. Once the Transaction has been completed, Hiab would be the only business left in Cargotec and could pursue its strategy on a standalone basis. Cargotec’s Board of Directors Cargotec’s Board of Directors is planning to offer to Cargotec’s General Meeting of shareholders As the agreement to sell MacGregor has been signed, Cargotec’s Board of Directors is planning to propose to Cargotec’s General Meeting of shareholders that the company’s name would be changed from Cargotec to Hiab. Simultaneously as the name change enters into force, the current President and CEO of Cargotec, Casimir Lindholm, has announced his intention to step down as President and CEO after a successfully executed transformation project of the Cargotec group. Cargotec changes to transform into a standalone The Board of Directors would then appoint the President of the Hiab business, Scott Phillips, as the President and CEO of the renamed company being the current Cargotec.  Cargotec currently estimates that these changes to transform into a standalone Hiab could take place on 1 April 2025. Current Cargotec CFO Mikko Puolakka would continue as CFO of the standalone Hiab.  Closing of the transaction is expected to occur by 1 July 2025 MacGregor recorded sales of EUR 733 million and a comparable operating profit of EUR 33 million MacGregor is a pioneer in sustainable maritime cargo and load handling with a strong portfolio of products, services and solutions. In 2023, MacGregor recorded sales of EUR 733 million and a comparable operating profit of EUR 33 million. Triton is a pioneering European mid-market sector-specialist investor. Triton focuses on investing in businesses that provide mission-critical goods and services in its three core sectors of Business Services, Industrial Tech, and Healthcare. Triton has previous experience of investing in the maritime sector and is a proven pioneer in the practice of carve-out investments.  MacGregor as a part of discontinued operations The enterprise value of the Transaction is EUR 480 million. Cargotec expects to record a tax-exempt loss of approximately EUR 200 million on the Transaction in the fourth quarter of 2024 results. The loss will be recorded as a goodwill impairment in items affecting comparability as a part of discontinued operations.  Cargotec estimates that the total costs to separate MacGregor, in addition to the goodwill impairment, would be approximately EUR 25 million and recorded in items affecting comparability as a part of discontinued operations. MacGregor’s performance and market conditions Cargotec started the sales process of the business as MacGregor’s performance and market conditions The Transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and works council consultation in relevant jurisdictions. Closing of the Transaction is expected to occur by 1 July 2025 at the latest. In addition to funding Hiab’s growth, the Board evaluates using part of the proceeds from the Transaction to pay extra dividends. The sale of the business follows Cargotec’s Board of Directors' decision on 14 November 2022 that MacGregor will not be part of Cargotec’s portfolio in the future. However, from a value creation perspective, the timing for divesting the business was not ideal at the time. In May 2024, Cargotec started the sales process of the business as MacGregor’s performance and market conditions had clearly improved. Hiab’s ambitious growth plans “The agreement to sell MacGregor represents the last major milestone in our project to unlock shareholder value by separating Cargotec’s businesses into standalone companies. The two-year project has progressed according to our plan and is now in its final stages." "The proceeds from the Transaction will boost Hiab’s ambitious growth plans through innovation and M&A. MacGregor will become a strategic asset for its new owner who will develop and put full focus on the business, which will enable further growth and profitability improvement,” says Cargotec’s CEO Casimir Lindholm. Triton’s investment focus Cargotec will publish its reclassified financial data before the publication of its financial statements “MacGregor stands out due to its engineering capabilities; broad and sustainable product offering; high-quality equipment; and strong reputation. Triton looks forward to collaborating with the company and its employees to develop further on this market-pioneering position, especially by strengthening the aftermarket platform where we see great potential." "MacGregor is at the core of Triton’s investment focus to acquire market-pioneering companies with strong potential and a competitive edge,” says Ilkka Tuominen, Investment Advisory Professional at Triton. MacGregor will be reported as part of discontinued operations Due to the signing of the agreement to sell MacGregor, Cargotec will report the MacGregor business area as a part of discontinued operations from the fourth quarter of 2024 onwards.  Cargotec will publish its reclassified financial information before the publication of its financial statements review for 2024. Updated outlook for 2024 Cargotec estimates Hiab’s comparable operating profit margin in 2024 to be above 14.0 percent Cargotec estimates Hiab’s comparable operating profit margin in 2024 to be above 14.0 percent.  The business area 2024 profitability outlook is presented using the same principles that are applied in the 2023 external financial reporting. Background for the updated outlook The outlook for Hiab, which was specified on 23 October 2024, has not been amended. As the MacGregor will be reported as part of discontinued operations, the MacGregor business has been removed from Cargotec’s outlook for 2024. The losses which will be recorded as part of the Transaction does not impact Cargotec’s outlook.

Traditionally, bulk cargo unloading has faced challenges around operational efficiency, safety risks, environmental impacts, and high operational costs. Rough discharges, equipment wear, vibration damage, and limited weather operating windows have all constrained vessel utilisation and performance. Moreover, older unloading systems are energy-intensive and labour-dependent, increasing both costs and environmental footprint. Cargo unloading systems Many bulk cargo unloading systems depend on steep slope angles, which limit the types of materials that can be carried efficiently.  MacGregor’s GravityVibe directly addresses this factor by allowing efficient discharge with significantly lower slope angles, thus broadening the range of cargo that can be handled.  Many bulk cargo unloading systems depend on steep slope angles. Ship structures and unloading equipment “GravityVibe reduces reliance on gravity alone by augmenting the flow with controlled vibration,” says Mikael Hägglund, Senior Manager, Cranes at MacGregor. “This approach improves operational efficiency, enhances safety through more predictable material flow, and reduces wear on ship structures and unloading equipment.” Challenges of space utilisation and cargo versatility MacGregor is a provider of cargo and load handling solutions to maximise efficiency Additionally, the GravityVibe system will, in most cases, require only one hold conveyor and no cross conveyor in the hold, making the operations both cost-effective and sustainable, says Hägglund. MacGregor, based in Helsinki, Finland, is a provider of cargo and load handling solutions to maximise efficiency of maritime operations. As an augmented gravity self-unloading system, GravityVibe enhances cargo flow using vibration, enabling bulk materials to be discharged efficiently at lower slope angles (15–20 degrees). It reduces material blockages and optimises discharge without requiring steep holds, addressing the challenges of space utilisation and cargo versatility. Mechanical strain on vessel structures The system lessens mechanical strain on vessel structures, and supports safer, smoother, and more efficient operations across different cargo types. “Using lower slope angles allows ships to maximise cargo hold volume and transport a wider variety of bulk materials, including those that would not flow well with conventional systems,” says Hägglund. “It improves operational flexibility.” Integrity of the vessel Vessels benefit from a more compact and efficient hold design, optimising stability and construction Structurally, vessels benefit from a more compact and efficient hold design, optimising stability and potentially lowering construction and maintenance costs, adds Hägglund. “Managing vibration and sound levels is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the vessel and ensuring crew safety and comfort,” he says. “Excessive vibration can lead to accelerated wear on ship components and fatigue damage over time.” GravityVibe’s design GravityVibe’s design ensures that both vibration and sound levels stay well below class-defined thresholds, preserving vessel longevity and reducing long-term maintenance and repair costs. Bulk cargoes have widely varying properties such as particle size, cohesiveness, moisture content, and chemical reactivity, all of which impact flow behaviour. Sticky, wet, or coarse materials require different unloading strategies to avoid blockages, segregation, or structural strain. Bulk cargoes have widely varying properties like particle size and cohesiveness. Broader spectrum of cargo types Key elements to achieve automation include fine-tuning self-optimisation algorithms GravityVibe’s vibration-driven approach adapts to these material differences, maintaining consistent discharge rates and ensuring operational reliability across a broader spectrum of cargo types without manual intervention or excessive mechanical modification, says Hägglund. More automated systems are on the horizon. Fully automated discharge is rapidly approaching reality, thanks to intelligent unloading systems like GravityVibe. Key remaining elements to achieve automation include fine-tuning self-optimisation algorithms, integrating predictive maintenance solutions, and standardising automation interfaces between vessels and ports. GravityVibe features  MacGregor is actively working to refine onboard software, improve material recognition capabilities, and enhance real-time adjustment features. Wider industry adoption and regulatory frameworks are also crucial for achieving fully autonomous and seamless bulk unloading. GravityVibe features a built-in self-optimisation system that uses sensors to monitor material flow characteristics during discharge. Based on live data, it automatically adjusts vibration frequency and intensity to match the properties of each specific cargo, ensuring optimal unloading performance without manual recalibration. MacGregor is working to refine onboard software and improve material recognition. GravityVibe’s performance GravityVibe’s performance has been verified through a combination of laboratory studies MacGregor is fine-tuning this system by gathering real-world data from full-scale test rigs, analysing operational performance across various cargo types, and incorporating feedback loops to continually improve discharge efficiency and system responsiveness. Real-world validation is essential to prove that unloading systems perform reliably under operational conditions. GravityVibe’s performance has been verified through a combination of laboratory studies and full-scale rig testing. In-house tests and studies For example, validation by bulk solids researcher TUNRA showed efficient unloading across diverse materials such as wood chips, manufacturing sand, and gravel. In-house tests and studies with external specialists like KTH have confirmed low vibration levels, consistent discharge flow, and high operational reliability, providing strong evidence for commercial deployment. TUNRA showed efficient unloading across diverse materials such as sand. GravityVibe’s system design GravityVibe’s system design is based on long-lasting parts and improved cargo flow High maintenance requirements traditionally have led to significant downtime and increased operational costs. GravityVibe’s system design is based on long-lasting components and improved cargo flow that reduce risks for failures and needed service, thereby lowering maintenance costs/needs. “With real-time monitoring and smart diagnostics, potential issues can be detected and addressed before they escalate, minimising service interruptions,” says Hägglund. “This proactive approach enhances equipment availability and ensures better operational continuity for vessel operators.” MacGregor GravityVibe system When unloading standard bulk carriers, there is a need to clean the holds with manpower and external machines as the port cranes or the vessel cranes will not be able to empty the holds. The weather could also be a factor for delay in cases where the cargo is sensitive to water. For the MacGregor GravityVibe system, all material will be removed from the hold without any extra efforts. GravityVibe demonstrates that with intelligent use of vibration and lower slope angles can achieve the same — or even better — results. This approach not only enables broader cargo flexibility but also reduces structural stress, energy consumption, and environmental footprint.

Achieving optimal return on investment (ROI) for a maritime company involves a strategic combination of operational efficiency, revenue enhancement, cost control, careful financial management, attention to sustainability and regulatory compliance, and other factors. Given all the variables in play, profitability can be elusive, but our Expert Panel Roundtable has some ideas. We asked: How can maritime companies maximise return on investment (ROI)?