Bachelor’s and Master’s Thesis Opportunities in Konecranes Lift Trucks Engineering

At Konecranes, we believe that great customer experience is built on the people behind the Konecranes name. Everything we do, we do with passion and drive. We believe diversity drives business success and is the foundation for our growth. We welcome different backgrounds and skills that enrich our community and we promote a place where we can ALL be ourselves. This is what makes Konecranes a unique place to work.

We are offering several Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis opportunities within Konecranes Lift Trucks R&D / Engineering. The thesis topics address real industrial challenges and are intended as potential subject areas, where final scope, level, and focus will be defined together with the student.

Available Thesis Topics:

1. Master’s Thesis: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Functionality for Konecranes Lift Trucks

Background

Konecranes Lift Trucks develops heavy-duty lift truck solutions where safety, productivity, and reliability are critical. This thesis explores and develops ADAS functionalities that can support operators in demanding industrial environments.

What you will do

• Define use cases and success criteria for ADAS in lift trucks

• Review relevant standards, research, and industrial best practices

• Work with available data and sensors, or propose a data collection approach

• Develop and evaluate an algorithm, concept demonstrator, and/or simulation-based prototype

• Validate performance using agreed metrics such as detection rate, false positives, latency, and usability

• Deliver a thesis report and presentation to Konecranes stakeholders

2. Bachelor Thesis Opportunity: Energy Consumption Optimization for Lift Trucks

Background

Energy efficiency is increasingly important for both sustainability and customers’ total cost of ownership. This thesis focuses on studying and improving energy consumption of lift trucks in real operating conditions, using real machines and/or operational data.

What you will do

• Analyze machines in real operations

• Identify and quantify key contributors to energy consumption

• Evaluate improvement opportunities

• Summarize findings and propose actionable improvements supported by data and clear reasoning

3. Master’s Thesis: Ergonomic Design Improvements for Forklift Cabins. Human-Centered Redesign for Safety, Comfort, and Performance

Background

Forklift operators work in demanding environments where long shifts, repetitive maneuvers, and constant attention can increase fatigue and the risk of safety-critical errors. Cabin factors such as limited visibility, whole-body vibration, awkward postures, and non-intuitive controls can contribute to discomfort and long-term musculoskeletal strain.

This thesis focuses on improving the Konecranes forklift cabin through a human-centered redesign that supports:

• Safer everyday operation

• Better operator wellbeing

• Reliable productivity in real working conditions

What you will do

• Conduct user research with operators and stakeholders

• Identify key ergonomic pain points and translate them into clear design requirements

• Benchmark relevant standards and best practices

• Create and iterate ergonomic design concepts

• Deliver a final concept proposal with evidence-based recommendations for implementation

Depending on thesis topic and level, you are:

• A Bachelor- or Master-level student in a relevant field such as Robotics, Automotive, Mechatronics, Control, Embedded Systems, Computer Vision, ML/AI, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation, Energy Systems, Industrial Engineering, Industrial Design, Human Factors, Ergonomics, or Product Development
• Interested in industrial machines, safety-critical systems, energy efficiency, data analysis, or human-centered design
• Able to work independently and document results clearly

Additional qualifications depending on topic:

•  Programming skills in Matlab, Python and/or C/C++
• Experience with tools such as Python, MATLAB, or Excel is a plus

We offer:

• Real industrial problems with practical impact and real-world relevance
• Hands-on experience with real machines, operational data, and operator feedback
• Supervision and collaboration with experienced Konecranes R&D and engineering professionals
• Access to relevant tools, environments, and internal expertise
• Opportunity to build deep technical or design expertise
• Possibility to continue with Konecranes after the thesis, depending on business needs and performance

Contact and Application

Share a short introduction about your background and interests and clearly state which thesis topic you are applying for. We will then discuss scope, timing, and supervision. 

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The final date for submitting your application is March 8.

For questions, please contact Daniel Samuelsson via [email protected]

We look forward to receiving your application!

Konecranes moves what matters. We are a global leader in material handling solutions, serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries. We consistently set the industry benchmark, from everyday improvements to the breakthroughs at moments that matter most, because we know we can always find a safer, more productive and sustainable way. That's why, with 16 000+ professionals in over 50 countries, we are trusted every day to lift, handle and move what the world needs.

Konecranes is committed to ensuring that all employees and job applicants are treated fairly in an environment which is free from any form of discrimination.