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Tag: warehouse

Spanish Warehouse Portfolio Acquired

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prologis, Inc., the global leader in logistics real estate, has completed an acquisition agreement with Spanish REIT Colonial comprising 18 logistics facilities totalling 473,000 square metres in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Guadalajara.

As part of the three-phased agreement, Prologis purchased two buildings in San Fernando de Henares totalling 56,000 square metres. In the first phase of the transaction, in August 2019, Prologis acquired 11 facilities totalling 314,000 square metres. In the second phase (July 2020), it purchased five buildings totalling 100,200 square metres. All 18 logistics facilities are either BREEAM or LEED certified.

“This transaction represents one of the largest in the Spanish logistics real estate sector in recent years,” said Ben Bannatyne, president, Prologis Europe. “It follows our strategy of investing in ‘parks’ or ‘hubs’ and introduces PARKlife more widely to our customers, a European programme which improves the sustainability and environment of our parks for the people and communities who use them.”

Prologis was advised by CBRE and Clifford Chance. Prologis is a leading provider of logistics real estate in Spain, with more than 1.2 million square meters of logistics and industrial space (as of September 30, 2020).

New Depths of Flexible Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

Geek+, a global leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and warehouse automation, and Universal Logic, a world-leading pioneer of an AI/sensor/machine-control software ‘brain’ for robots, announce the beginning of a new partnership. Together, the two technology leaders declare a joint commitment to support the manufacturing and logistics industry with a paradigm-shifting goods-to-robot solution, for automating supply chain operations and elevating industry 4.0.

With large parts of the supply chain dependent on fixed automation and manual materials handling, the rise in demand for customization and made-to-stock capabilities have resulted in strained processes. In turn, it has generated a need for technologies that can automate the flexibility and precision of skilled labor and combine it with the throughput capacity of dynamic inventory control.

Randy Randolph, Senior Sales Manager of Geek+ US, says: “We are very glad to partner with Universal Logic and look forward to leveraging their extensive experience in automating dynamic robot behavior to realize the full potential of our intelligent mobile robotics solutions. By combining our advanced robotics hardware with Universal Logic’s unparalleled experience, we believe that this collaboration has the potential to transform the global supply chain and shape the future.”

The partnership will give Universal Logic access to Geek+’s wide range of robotics hardware for intelligent sorting and picking. Built on autonomous mobile robot technology and AI-driven software, Geek+ will provide Universal Logic with the flexibility to automate the entire chain from dynamic inventory control to pick & pack, expanding from goods-to-man to goods-to-robot solutions. Correspondingly, Geek+ will have access to Neocortex, Universal Logic’s AI platform featuring real-time and modular robot control for extended perception, direct grasping, and advanced robot guidance, enabling human-like flexible picking capabilities, to unleash the true potential of intelligent robotics for logistics.

Universal Logic CEO, David Peters, states: “The Geek+ mobile robot platform, dovetails perfectly with Universal’s dynamic robot control for picking and packing, providing our customers seamless automation capabilities, creating an end-to-end solution to meet current and future supply chain needs.”

Today, Geek+ and Universal Logic respectively serves a broad customer range including Fortune 500 Companies and regional businesses. The collaboration will enable them to strengthen their industry leadership and provide clients with flexible, adaptable, and efficient operations that can meet challenges associated with high mix/high volume applications in manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. By combining the efficiency and speed of robots with human-like precision and flexibility, it will allow businesses to realize stable and reliable supply chain operations and meet the challenges of tomorrow.

CEVA Logistics Acquires ASTI Group in Morocco

Posted on by Keith McKinley

CEVA Logistics has acquired ASTI Group in Morocco as part of its strategic expansion plan across the African continent. CEVA Logistics and ASTI have been long-term partners for more than two decades and have delivered a range of multi-modal services to customers across the North African country in that time.

Through acquiring the company, CEVA Logistics will expand its range of export capabilities, specifically reefer services – in cooperation with its parent company the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics – and Contract Logistics activities in both Casablanca and the Tangiers Free Zone. The new operation will be looking to capitalize on the strength of the automotive industry in the country, a vertical in which CEVA Logistics is a market-leader.

ASTI is already a top ten logistics player in the Moroccan market with almost 100 full time staff members based at the two locations which will additionally offer air, ocean, ground (domestic and international), project logistics and Customs clearance services. ASTI is a Customs clearance expert in Morocco and is fully certified with the authorities and has a direct EDI interface with Customs.

Says CEVA Logistics’ CEO Mathieu Friedberg said: “The acquisition of ASTI further enhances our standing in the African market and shows our ambition for the continent as a whole.  We believe there is enormous potential across a range of freight services and extending the CEVA brand in its own right in Morocco will set us on the road to further success”.

CEVA Logistics is a global business. Last month it announced the win of a major, five year contract with Pernod Ricard to provide the drinks manufacturer with warehousing and distribution support in South East Asia. For the full story click here.

Warehouse Reaching New Heights

Posted on by Keith McKinley

An automated warehouse is a breath-taking sight, as reams of pallets are automatically scanned and retrieved for delivery. But not all automation systems are made to endure extreme environments. Here’s how Technidrive Ltd and WEG partnered to help Moffett, an automated storage firm, design a vertical lift for extreme temperatures.

Industrial elevators are usually propelled by electric motors, with the aid of a counterweight system. However, when these industrial systems are in environments of varying temperatures, the equipment must also withstand extreme temperatures as well as heavy loads. This was the case for Moffett, an automated storage firm in Ireland, taking on its first international project in Dubai. The project involved building a system for a three-storey 30-metre-high building with a throughput of 85 pallets per hour. Moffett required an automated storage system to lift and lower pallets, which could operate in temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius.

In addition, Moffett wanted to manoeuvre pallets, which weigh over 1500kg, at a rate of one metre per second, between a height of six metres to 30 metres. To put this into perspective, the average building is around ten metres tall. At the start of development, Moffett used a drive system from another company. However, the system was incorrectly selected and did not function properly or provide the necessary control. This resulted in Moffett getting in touch with Technidrive, who turned to WEG for the supply a 11kw electric motor, and a variable speed drive (VSD), along with the relevant programming software. The VSD, also known as an inverter, plays a significant role in this application.

Being inverter driven, the storage system accelerates and deaccelerates at a faster rate. Similarly, as carts move through the lift to its programmed level, adjustment is required as the weight of the cart increases and decreases. The lifts therefore needed the conventional auto-correction system found in human-carrying elevators, to account for changes in weight.

Technidrive and WEG worked together to develop an autocorrection movement within the inverter, to keep the lift level with the floor that the cart is moving along. So, instead of the lift lowering as the cart moves along the aisles carrying heavier loads, the inverter automatically corrects the cart’s stability and keeps it passing along smoothly at the correct level. In addition, Technidrive also had to be aware of regenerative energy, which is energy that returns back into the inverter. This occurs whenever a motor decelerates, or a load descends. Raising 2000kg requires a lot of energy and, in turn, lowering 2000kg creates a lot of energy.

For instance, as the inverter controls the speed of the lowering elevator, energy is being generated back into the motor. That energy then comes back into the inverter as DC bus voltage, which needs to be dissipated in a break resistor or burned off as heat, the latter being potentially dangerous. Originally, The break resistor was not large enough for extreme dutys, which would have caused overheating problems. However, Technidrive upsized its break resistors and added thermal protection to ensure no overheating problems would occur from regenerative energy.

“Currently, the system is being used by Moffett in Dubai and Dublin,” explained David Strain, technical director at Technidrive. “However, this application is global, so can be anywhere in the world. We already have two more projects lined up in Amsterdam and London.

“Technidrive did all the calculations and design from scratch, to make sure the motor was suitable for the application, with enough torque, speed and power. Our relationship with Technidrive is very good, and we are working with them on other projects with the hope for another two or three towards the end of the year. “We met with Technidrive every week during the development stage,” explained Sam Moffett, managing director at Moffett. “Technidrive were really helpful, representatives made time to call and were available when needed.

“Originally, we had a motor that did not work from another company, so we spoke to Technidrive who were able to offer what we wanted. They worked on the new motor for a few days, got it working the way we wanted and continue to provide support when needed.”

Not all automation systems are made to endure extreme environments. However, global motor and drive manufacturer WEG, along with Technidrive, ensured Moffett could design a vertical lift for extreme temperatures — adding another breath-taking automated warehouse to the list.

Trends 2021: Warehouse Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

By Mark Wheeler, Director, Supply Chain Solutions, Zebra Technologies.

Warehouse automation acceleration.
1. How has the pandemic impacted warehousing and logistics operations in 2020, 2021 and beyond?

With the pandemic, warehouse operators are dealing with challenges such as changing customer demand patterns which are strongly impacting the supply chain. Manufacturing interruptions, lack of components, and labor shortages create an ongoing supply chain disruption.

Warehouse operators need to develop and quickly scale their capabilities to adapt to these demand dynamics, considering resources and workforce management. In this new age, enterprises must comply with social distancing rules while dealing with a constrained labor market due to COVID-19. As a result, many favor physical automation to maintain efficient fulfillment operations and productivity. Robotics and intelligent automation are gaining traction and will be accelerating in the next few years.

Warehouse automation acceleration – spanning the entire supply chain from warehousing operations to distribution centers – has been driven by the need to deliver directly to consumers in increasingly shorter timeframes. Carriers such as FedEx, DHL and SF Express in China are shipping at peak volumes daily. This acceleration will continue in 2021 and beyond.

2. What is warehouse automation and its benefits for customers?

Warehouse automation is the combination of mobility, physical automation along with technologies such as RFID and temperature sensing. Combining these technologies with the growth of robotics, including cobots that interface and collaboratively work with humans can help fulfillment centers improve e-commerce operations. For example, integrating temperature-sensing solutions such as Zebra Temptime can indicate if vaccines, medications, biologics, blood, food and more have been exposed to potentially hazardous conditions that could impact their efficacy or safety.

Physical automation
This is the capacity to improve how products are physically moved in the warehouse with robots or cobots. These solutions help to remove repetitive manual processes and unnecessary walking time, improving worker productivity and efficiency.

Warehouse operations are impacted by low-value worker travel in the picking processes. Zebra’s warehouse vision study states that typically 50% of ecommerce warehouse employees are picking orders and that 40-70% of their time is spent moving between picking locations. Technology such as wearable devices, collaboration solutions, Android™ mobile computers and robots/cobots (collaborative robots) all help manage and enhance labor utilization and reduce costs.

Today, a typical warehouse operator can walk many miles a day moving goods from different warehouse locations to the dock to have them shipped. Using an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) significantly reduces this as the goods are brought to the operator within a specific workflow, increasing worker picking time and overall efficiency.

Warehouse operators and fulfilment centers face today need to automate their operational workflows to respond to continued increasing demand.

RFID technology and machine vision
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and machine vision integrated with computer vision provides the visibility needed without relying on an under resourced workforce. Having solutions that enable a “visible warehouse” is a key part of warehouse automation.

We’ve seen a growing interest and demand in RFID, machine vision and computer vision systems. The ability to plan more effectively has become critical for warehouse operators, and this will continue in the future. The need for greater visibility and effective intelligent planning is also becoming increasingly critical. Data is an invaluable asset and its power is only unlocked if it is actioned at the right time to the right person to drive an improved outcome.

Using machine vision and computer vision system solutions can help optimize resources, maintaining operations, saving costs and increasing productivity. You can think of machine vision as being the “eye” while computer vision is the “brain” of a system. These are interdependent technologies. Machine vision technology transforms images into actionable information using image analysis for inspection, quality checking, or anomaly detection against a known specification or comparison. These technologies provide greater visibility in what we call the “visible warehouse.” Warehouse operators are looking to increase shipping and picking visibility accuracy which is why they need the right technology to be able to achieve this.

In the new normal global economy, it is critical for warehouse operators to adapt their processes, workflows and operational models to increase overall efficiencies and productivity by adopting new technologies.

3. What is the technologies’ impact on warehousing and supply chain, and what are the top technologies for successful warehouse automation?

Several dynamics and trends are impacting the warehousing and supply chain landscape. The sharp rise in e-commerce sales is putting pressure on retailers to implement omnichannel strategies for online order fulfilment. This has shifted goods from retail shelves to warehouse racks. Retailers, logistic service providers (LSP) or third-party logistics (3PL) providers are challenged by consumer demands for faster and cheaper delivery, while at the same time managing with less workers in their warehouses.

The ongoing peak activity due to the pandemic means that warehouse automation technology is key for enterprises to maintain operations and manage their critical workflows. To increase productivity, it is key to have visibility of people, assets, materials along with integrating warehouse processes with intelligent physical automation. Speed matters more than ever, and this needs to start at the edge.

RFID technology and prescriptive analytics solutions gives enhanced visibility into warehouse workflows through devices held or worn by workers. Warehouse operators need to get the right workflow execution software and prescriptive guidance tools to optimize worker efficiencies. They need to equip their workers with hands-free mobile devices so they can quickly access the right information at the right time. With the growing use of robots including cobots that interface and collaboratively work with people, this can help fulfillment centers improve e-commerce operations. Integrating intelligent temperature sensor solutions such as Zebra Temptime can indicate if food, vaccines, medications and more have been exposed to potentially hazardous conditions that could impact their efficacy or safety. Legacy providers will have to adapt to meet this growing online customer demand to stay competitive, or risk being left behind.

4. How can technology help warehouse operations be more efficient?

Agility matters more than ever and is one of the key challenges for warehouse operators today as they need to understand how every fulfillment center is operating in real time to be effective and efficient.

Today and tomorrow, warehouses must explore new ways to maintain operations, improve productivity and increase profitability. Understanding their end-user data to help them achieve this is critical. We see an increasing need for mobility and visibility across warehouse operations as well as data analytics planning, predictive modelling solutions and automation. Many customers today are starting to integrate intelligent automation solutions into their warehouse and supply chain environments. Systems with computer and machine vision and robots and cobots will continue to drive automation into 2021 and beyond.

While cost savings are a major factor for automation, some enterprises have seen their early embrace of this as a competitive differentiator, enabling them to increase throughput, fulfill orders quicker, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Flexible Workforce Management

Posted on by David Priestman

While most logistics employers have been moving towards adopting more modern workforce management tools, none had expected to make so many profound changes quite so quickly. Eric Paulsson, Logistics and Warehousing Specialist at Quinyx, explores the lessons learned.

The effects of the pandemic across the industry have been varied. Aberdeen Standard Investments talks about a two-speed market, where industrial estates, trade parks and ‘big box’ assets supplying retail stores are vulnerable to weaker consumption, particularly in the event of a more severe and prolonged consumer recession. It commented: “The most resilient subsectors are fringe-city and urban logistics, which are closely tied to the phenomenal surge in demand for online retail. Some estimates suggest that online retail sales volumes have been catapulted five
years into the future in the space of just a few months.”

And that’s just retail. The impact on connected businesses such as freight has also been significant and unexpected, as the movement of goods has shifted between methods of transport depending on demand and the dictates of individual regions and countries on what is permissible. Despite a few high profile missteps, the logistics industry has been a leader in the adoption of safety and hygiene measures for staff and suppliers. It is also embracing the benefits of workforce management solutions that aim to provide both employers and staff with the capabilities they have been seeking for some years, now accelerated by the pandemic.

Flexible Scheduling

The keywords for the future will seem contradictory but they are ‘flexibility’ and ‘predictability’; employers want to know that they have the right people and resources for the tasks at hand, but at the same time, know they can respond to demand fluctuations that have been so common over the last six months and which look set to continue. For instance, as the source of orders has changed, some warehouses have moved to create dual pick faces for retail and ecommerce; they want to retain the flexibility to ramp up and down depending on how demand changes by channel in the future.

Already this has seen some warehouse staff having to move between roles and tasks more often. This has put pressure on conventional staff scheduling tools that not only lack flexibility for employers but are also unable to provide schedule choices for staff who have needed to incorporate unusual requirements. These include having to work around elderly and vulnerable family members or needing to take on greater workloads to compensate for family members who may be on furlough or have even lost their jobs. Scheduling tools now need to be able to optimise
scheduling, forecast shifts to improve productivity, and control costs as well ensure compliance with regulations on hygiene and social distancing. Read the whole article here.

Property Companies Team-up to Raise Net Zero Carbon Understanding

Posted on by David Priestman

Two of the UK’s leading logistics property companies, Prologis and Tritax Big Box , have joined forces to share best practice for net zero carbon development in the sector and highlight the important role it can play in minimising the impacts of climate change.

Both companies have developed their own pathways to net zero carbon over more than a decade and have come together to share their learnings in a new report, entitled ‘Net zero building in action’. As well as challenging other property developers and logistics companies to take action to reduce and mitigate ‘embodied carbon’ when designing and constructing new buildings, the report shares distinct methodologies for achieving net zero carbon, in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework Definition.

Simon Cox, UK sustainability officer for Prologis in the UK believes that key to achieving net zero is understanding that while steps can be taken to reduce ‘embodied carbon’ prior to and during construction, it can’t be eliminated from new buildings altogether. It must, therefore, be mitigated, either through an accredited carbon offset scheme or an alternative carbon mitigation scheme. The pathway to net zero carbon devised by Prologis in the UK has seen the property company work with sustainability certification programme, The Planet Mark, for the past 12 years to measure, reduce and mitigate the whole-life embodied carbon footprint of each new building, based on robust Carbon Lifecycle Assessments. Prologis then goes over and above the Planet Mark Certification Scheme to mitigate five times the unavoidable carbon emissions in its buildings by working with climate change charity, Cool Earth, to protect rainforest. Over the past 12 years, this initiative has protected over 12,500 acres of rainforest, locking in 3.7 tonnes of co2 and protecting over 3.4 million trees.

The pathway to net zero carbon devised by Tritax Big Box , along with its dedicated logistics developer, Tritax Symmetry, is similarly robust. Together they have developed a unique analytical model to measure the embodied carbon of each of the materials and products used during construction, in order to identify the building’s lifecycle carbon impact. This innovative carbon model is currently being piloted on two ongoing developments – a new distribution facility for DPD at Bicester and another for the Co-op Group at Symmetry Park, Biggleswade. On completion, each building will be independently verified as net zero carbon in accordance with UKGBC’s Framework Definition. Carbon offset arrangements will be undertaken at this stage to address any residual embodied carbon using one of the UKGBC’s recognized schemes.

The pathways to net zero carbon followed by both Prologis and Tritax Big Box are aligned with UKGBC’s Framework Definition. The report describes the construction of two specific developments by Prologis and Tritax Symmetry – Internet Fusion’s new HQ at Prologis Park Kettering and DPD’s new UK distribution centre at Bicester, respectively.

Simon Cox, First Vice President and UK Sustainability Officer at Prologis, said: “The carbon mitigation scheme we have developed at Prologis provides clear metrics to our customers, so they know that the buildings they are using are certified as net zero carbon and support their own sustainability credentials. Working with The Planet Mark and Cool Earth, our activities are helping to fund rainforest restoration programmes and protect the planet against the ravaging effects of climate change. Crucially, we don’t just aim for net zero, our carbon mitigation scheme is deliberately weighted to over-compensate for the residual embodied carbon of any new building, delivering a net environmental benefit.”

Helen Drury (pictured), Sustainability Lead at Tritax Big Box, said: “The logistics buildings we develop today will be here in 2050 and, therefore, we have a responsibility to ensure they are net zero carbon when we hand them over to our customers. The model we have developed is an important sustainability asset and we will continue to refine it to take account of new building products and methods.”

Karl Desai, Senior Advisor – Advancing Net Zero at UKGBC, added: “These companies have come together to share their knowledge and experience in a transparent way and this is exactly the kind of initiative that is needed to increase the pace of change across the wider construction sector. Embodied carbon in the built environment accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions and this must be tackled now.”

35,000 Pallet Positions for New Warehouse

Posted on by David Priestman

Boughey Distribution, a company that specialises in logistics and distribution services, entrusted AR Racking with fitting out its innovative and state-of-the-art 21,000 m2 warehouse located in Crewe (Cheshire, UK). The ambitious warehouse was built at a decisive moment during the crisis generated by the pandemic in the United Kingdom.

AR Racking, a company that specialises in industrial storage systems, has installed an Adjustable Pallet Racking system solution for Boughey Distribution. The warehouse, which has been recognised with the highest storage and distribution certification according to the BRC Global Standard, has 35,500 pallet positions

“The solution implemented adapts to Boughey Distribution’s wide range of products and unit loads. It will allow direct and immediate access to the goods, providing a competitive advantage for a company whose main activity requires maximum agility” explained Mike Smyth, AR Racking’s Key Account Manager in the UK. The installation has a top beam height of 12.4 m and a range of different weights and unit load sizes

For Mr. Danny Earp, Operations Director at Boughey Distribution “budget and timescales aside, this project was made all the more demanding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkably, the project was still delivered safely and to plan, and warehouse operations commenced on schedule. The most pleasing aspect of working with AR Racking was that all of the promises made to us during the tender stage were met, with fine quality, coordination, and consistency”. The total warehouse investment was around 2 million euros.
Based in Maidenhead, AR Racking has a long track record in major storage projects for every type of sector in a market as competitive as the United Kingdom’s. To this great adaptability is added AR Racking UK’s broad experience with a vast network of distributors with excellent results.

24/7 Endurance Doors

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A Bavarian body component manufacturer has installed doors which close at 1.8m per second, every 30 seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The EFA-SRT® MS machine protection doors from Efaflex open and close at a speed of up to 1.8 metres per second every 30 seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the new WMU
Bavaria GmbH plant in the town of Niederaichbach, Bavaria, to be fully reorganised under robotic lines by 2022.

Efaflex, the world market leader in the field of industrial high-speed doors, has developed door systems that are not only equipped with all conceivable safety features but can also be used as
EC type-examined safety components as per Machinery Directive 2006 / 42 / EC. Automotive component specialist WMU Bavaria benefited from this development when setting up the new plant. With 18 doors having successfully passed their two-month continuous load test, WMU Bavaria ordered 22 more machine protection doors. A total of 40 door systems have now been in operation to protect employees since the beginning of April. Many of the EFA-SRT® MS are equipped with a flame-retardant door hanging and an optional UV protection window for special application in front of the welding cabins.

Due to their space-saving, self-contained design, the machine protection doors from Efaflex can be adapted perfectly to the required protective devices. They stand out due to their extraordinary resilience and stability. The standard EFA-SRT® MS door leaf is fully transparent and equipped with warning strips as standard. Coloured, highly tear-resistant and transversely stable curtains are also available without any problems. All curtain versions are free from substances that interfere with the lacquering process.

The interplay between a high performance frequency inverter controller and a functionally adapted drive makes the high cycle rate of up to seven cycles per minute possible in production processes. Because of the lack of a weight counter-balance mechanism, the side frames are very slim; thus, the maintenance work and spare parts required are reduced significantly. The doors are designed for 250,000 load cycles per year.

A transparent cover provides a clear view of the integrated safety end-limit switch of cat. 4 / Pl »e« according to DIN EN ISO 13849-1. Thanks to optional floor supports, the safety devices can be installed as a stand-alone system. Uneven ground is compensated by levelling screws. Like almost all products from the world market leader, these door systems can also be perfectly integrated into fully automated processes and highly intelligent systems, which does, however, also require great flexibility on the part of the manufacturer for assembly: the machine protection doors were installed between Friday evening and Sunday, i.e. outside production times, to ensure that production could run smoothly during the week.

Efaflex designs, manufactures, installs and services high-speed doors for industrial and commercial applications. Founded in 1974, the company supplies to clients including food processing, manufacturing, clean room, cold store and the chemical, pharmaceutical sectors. As the only manufacturer of high-speed industrial doors, Efaflex has been entered into the world market leader index and is one of the 461 top companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The privately-owned company has more than 1,200 employees worldwide.

Everything. Except Emissions

Posted on by David Priestman

A new electric truck in the 3.5 to 5-tonne sector promises efficient results both indoors and outdoors. Paul Hamblin hears about it.

“A bit of colour in your workplace routine, which can sometimes be autumnal grey,” said Gerald Strugg, STILL GmbH Product Manager, E-trucks. Via a slick online press conference, he was referring to the latest model of the STILL RX 60 electric forklift, an eye-catching all-rounder which offers what has been a tricky deliverable in the electric space, a truck marketed to be effective
both indoors and outdoors. “It offers everything except exhaust gases,” he quipped.

The 3.5 to 5-tonne model aims to build on the RX 60 series’ achievements in agility, manoeuvrability and high driving comfort. The compact 80 Volt electric forklift truck offers, says the company, outstanding handling performance and high availability. STILL says it is opening up a new perspective for even more companies when it comes to designing their truck fleet, whether in terms of performance, cost, environmental compatibility or efficiency of use.

This year is a special one for the Hamburg-based company founded in 1920 by Hans Still and it is making much of the switch to electric power. Using resources optimally and efficiently is inherent to its DNA. Ever since the company was founded 100 years ago everything has revolved around the innovative combination of electrical energy and mobility – as well as a pioneering spirit and
passion for progress with a clear eye for current market requirements. In the post-war period it was the lack of fuel combined with the growing mobility of the economy that brought great success – first in 1946 with the electric cart EK 2000 and only a few years later with the first STILL electric forklift, the EGS 1000. Numerous successful forklift truck series later, it is still the clear focus on customer and industry needs that is at the centre of this latest product development: powerful performance and ergonomics combined with high energy efficiency and the possibility of implementing zero emissions in internal logistics. It’s a logic that makes the power pack the very heart of the RX 60-35/50.

Power for any application

Seven different vehicle variants are available to customers with a load centre of 500 mm as standard, or 600 mm upon request. A high-performance variant is available in all weight classes,
which excels in demanding application profiles with even more handling capacity, more power and acceleration. CSO/Member Management Board at STILL GmbH, Thomas A Fischer told
me that the truck will be marketed to multiple sectors. “We have a wide range – automotive, chemical, beverage, retail, indeed anywhere with a need to lift heavy loads.”

Crucially, both lead acid batteries and lithium-ion technology are available, and STILL says it has firm evidence of their effectiveness. As early as 2019, an independent test certified that the
smaller version of the new series, the RX 60-25 (carrying 2.5 tonnes), ranked among the best in direct electric forklift truck competition, offering handling performance and gradeability on a par
with a comparable diesel forklift truck. STILL engineers have now transferred this successful drive concept to the 5-tonne model. This is made possible by two powerful encapsulated three-phase
drive motors with active cooling in the front axle. In the high performance version, the two 11 kW motors provide even more power. They increase the drive motor output by 46 percent compared to the predecessor. As both motors are driven even at full steering angle, the truck is particularly manoeuvrable. Demand-driven active cooling ensures high thermal stability even at maximum handling performance. Robust and maintenance-free fans cool the encapsulated components of the power electronics as well as the lift and drive motors via temperature control, all without filters.

Thanks to its low consumption and a battery capacity of 930 Ah (59.5 kWh), or up to 118.4 kWh in the Li-Ion version of the RX 60-50, STILL says the power pack can easily cope with two shifts
in a row without interim charging. To change the battery, the now proven lateral battery door opens up new perspectives – quite literally. The 4 mm thick steel door of the RX 60-35/50 can now also be easily opened 180 degrees to the rear, and the battery can be changed by just one person using an electric pallet truck, saving space, time, energy and resources. Optionally, an integrated built-in charger provides even more flexibility for quick and easy interim charging during work.

It’s important to offer choice to customers, says Thomas Fischer. “We have a good portfolio and we offer both lead-acid and lithium options. We see a clear customer trend towards li-ion, though,” he points out. He predicts that market-share of electric trucks will be “over 50% in 5-10 years”. Does he see a similar success curve for hydrogen-based fuel cell technology? “Fuel cell is not as economic, and particularly so if it is not subsidised. There are some big political discussions needed, as it could be impossible to develop more fully without Brussels subsidies,” he says.

Speed and ergonomics

Speed and stamina are also features. The RX 60 can hit a nippy 20 km/h, while time is saved (and safety preserved) with the quick start mode and an automatic spring-loaded parking brake if the driver steps out of the cab. Meanwhile, the intuitive on-board computer enables clear and convenient overview of all relevant performance functions and truck information. STILL designers have recognised the role of both ergonomics and enjoyment in maintaining employee engagement. The RX 60 stands out with its low front body and easy-access placement of controls and displays. The mast profiles designed for optimum visibility create an extra large field of vision around transported goods and past the mast.

The driver’s cab not only has 16 mm more headroom than its predecessor, its footwell is also particularly spacious. For a fatigue-free leg position for the driver, it is about one hand’s width wider than the predecessor and also offers sufficient freedom of movement for feet up to huge shoe sizes. For greater safety and comfort when getting on and off the vehicle, the enlarged step has an additional nonslip edge. The ergonomically shaped battery cover also provides comfort: even with the seat adjusted to the maximum rearward position, the calves do not touch it. The pedal position alleviates strain on the legs and allows an unimpeded movement between the accelerator and brake pedals.

On the wider business front, Chairman of Management Board, Henry Puhl suggests that the company has coped well with the unexpected rigours of 2020. “We created a safe working environment, we’ve stayed fully functional and we’re working with customers to feel secure in what we do.” Indeed, he strikes a note of optimism, which is a rare commodity in Europe as the much-feared second wave of the pandemic unfolds. “I want to spark some confidence,” he suggests. “We know a lot more about COVID now, we a know a lot more about how to handle it and we feel
connected to our customers – all of us have to work together to get through it.”

He admits to a double-digit percentage drop in orders caused by COVID, but counters that STILL will reap the benefits sown by the pandemic’s ‘winners’ within its customer sectors – led by intralogistics, driven by fast-growing ecommerce transactions. STILL’s message is that choosing the right forklift is nowadays about much more than brand and tonnage. Internal logistics systems matter, and the right energy choice plays a vital role. This can vary depending on the application profile and individual perspective – e.g. total operating costs, sustainability, digitalisation or service.

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