Green Runs in Our Veins at Merlo
For Merlo, being environmentally responsible is a long-term commitment woven into every part of the business.
From the factory floors of northern Italy to the day‑to‑day operations here in the UK, Merlo is proving that sustainability isn’t just about the machines you build. It’s about how you build them, how you power your sites, and how you think as a company.
Sustainability Starts at Home: Inside Merlo’s Italian Factory
Long before a Merlo telehandler reaches a farm, site, or depot, its sustainability story has already begun.
At the company’s headquarters in Cuneo, an impressive photovoltaic system stretches across the rooftops. In 2024 alone, it produced 1,150 MWh of clean, renewable electricity—avoiding around 750 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. That’s the equivalent of planting more than 4,500 trees.
And Merlo isn’t stopping there. The aim is full energy parity, meaning the site will eventually produce as much electricity as it consumes.
A Circular Mindset
Waste reduction is central to Merlo’s approach:
- 30+ compacting presses help recycle cardboard and plastics
- Metal filings and offcuts are captured and reused
- Staff are encouraged to shut down IT equipment to save energy
- Sensor‑operated taps and widespread digitalisation reduce water and paper waste
Individually, these may seem like small steps—but together, they form a powerful culture of sustainability.
Doing More With Less: Smarter, Cleaner Operations
Across the factory, continuous improvements are reducing energy consumption even further:
- A shift to LED lighting, cutting energy use by up to 90%
- Dusk sensors and automated heating systems to avoid waste
- Better-insulated new buildings designed for energy efficiency
- Streamlined logistics and upgraded production equipment
The result? A manufacturing environment that works cleaner, smarter, and leaner.
Generation Zero: Machines Made for the Future
Merlo’s sustainability efforts don’t end once a machine rolls off the production line.
The company’s Generation Zero range is redefining what clean performance looks like:
The eWorker – 100% Electric, 100% Practical
Quiet, zero-emission, and fitted with eco‑smart features like regenerative braking and auto start‑stop, the eWorker proves that electric doesn’t mean compromise.
ROTO Plug & Play Hybrid
Offering full-size performance with significantly reduced emissions, this hybrid solution bridges the gap between traditional and electric.
eCINGO
Compact, electric, and ideal for indoor, quiet or confined spaces, it’s another step towards a lower‑carbon construction and agricultural environment.
Even more models are currently in development, ready to strengthen Merlo’s low‑emission line‑up in the coming years.
Merlo UK: Sustainability, the Local Way
The same commitment runs throughout Merlo UK’s operations in Ringwood, Hampshire.
- Rooftop solar panels help power the site and charge employee vehicles
- Surplus energy is fed back into the grid
- A hybrid vehicle policy helps reduce transport emissions
- Recyclable packaging replaces traditional materials
- Where possible, machines arrive in the UK via electric freight trains and hybrid LNG/electric ships
These choices aren’t made because they’re trendy—they’re made because they matter.
A Sustainability Culture, Not a Checklist
Whether it’s a technician switching off equipment, a manager rolling out LED lighting upgrades, or an engineer working on the next generation of electric telehandlers, Merlo’s people share the same belief:
Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.
As Shaun Groom, Managing Director of Merlo UK, says:
We all have a responsibility to future generations. Sustainability is about more than the machines we deliver—it’s about how we build them, how we power them, and how we run our business day to day.
It’s not just the machines evolving. It’s the mindset.
Merlo’s Sustainability Highlights
- 1,150 MWh of solar energy produced in 2024
- 750 tonnes of CO₂ saved—equal to planting 4,500+ trees
- 30+ compacting presses across the factory
- Up to 90% energy savings from LED lighting
- 100% electric eWorker in full production
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