Kuehne + Nagel & STILL – The partnership

Kuehne + Nagel are the first Logistics company in Germany to rent a complete fleet of the energy-saving RX70 Hybrid diesel trucks from STILL.
 
Aug. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Kuehne + Nagel Expo Service, is one of the largest fair logistics service providers worldwide with branches in Europe, Asia as well as North and Central America. Andreas Kerkmann, K&N Expo Service branch manager in Hannover, explains: “We provide frictionless fair hosting by setting up and removing fair stands quickly. Efficient use of forklift trucks plays an essential role. Last year alone we had about 38,000 hours of operation throughout our major fair venues.”

“In the test, the RX 70 Hybrid from STILL scored best by far with a consumption rate considerably below that of the models it was compared to. This is why we decided to rent a complete fleet of twenty RX70 Hybrid trucks which we operate at the fair grounds in Hannover, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Nuremberg as well as Munich.”

Rental fleet to increase flexibility.
The trucks at fair grounds are subject to very volatile demands. Branch manager Andreas Kerkmann at Kuehne + Nagel says: “For this reason we cover nearly 90 percent of all applications with rental trucks. The transparent cost structure allows us to handle a very broad range of different requests and orders.”

“To ensure full availability of the trucks in the long run, regular service is indispensable. The large number of STILL branches ensures fast service at every fair ground.” The project manager responsible for the hybrid rental fleet at STILL - Oliver Hoffmann adds: “We also adapt the trucks to individual requirements for specific applications.” For this particular fleet, the hybrid trucks are equipped with a minimum fork length of 2,000mm, a particle filter for indoor operation in fair halls, a full cabin with heater for outdoor operation and the counter balance weight is painted in K&N corporate colours.

Ten hybrid trucks with a load capacity of 3.0 and 3.5 tonnes, with closed mast heights ranging from 2,180mm to 2,925mm and lift heights from 4,480mm to 6,430mm were delivered to the five major fair grounds in Germany. Besides the standard equipment, a further ten RX70 Hybrid are equipped with a hydraulic double pallet handler. Oliver Hoffmann emphasises: “Trucks with low closed mast heights were ordered for the fair in Cologne where they also operate in cellars with low ceiling heights. Kuehne + Nagel in Düsseldorf asked for trucks with large lift heights. To increase the comfort for the drivers, all trucks were equipped with an exclusive air suspended seat and heating.” The head of the technical department at Kuehne + Nagel Hannover - Uwe Gildner underlines: “The initial scepticism of the drivers has now been transformed into full enthusiasm.”

The right rental truck for every application.
Be it counter balance trucks with different drive types, warehouse equipment, various reach trucks or tractors, STILL offers a range of 60 different vehicle types and is able to rent the right truck for any occasion. A fleet of about 6,000 rental trucks is available at 33 locations in Germany. The manager responsible for short term rental in Europe at STILL is Oliver Hoffmann, who comments: “Especially in times of high utilisation or in case of a truck failure, our customers are perfectly prepared with our ‘Full-Service’ rental trucks. Due to an increase in the demand we have enlarged our pool of rental trucks in Germany by 500 new trucks in the first quarter of this year.” Special accessories and attachments such as fork arm positioners, bale clamps, role clamps or double pallet clams are part of the rental range offered by STILL. Also available are special trucks with long forks and high lift capacities up to 16 tonnes. “Our tight network and multiple subsidiaries in 17 European countries currently provide a total of 23,500 rental trucks. If a customer needs a truck, we are able to provide the truck at short notice from a branch nearby.

Hybrid trucks reduce C02 emissions.
The hybrid trucks combine the advantages of a powerful IC drive with the sensitivity of an electric truck. The diesel-electric drive from STILL is mainly characterised by its high efficiency and its long service life. This powerful propulsion system consists of a generator, an intelligent control unit and an electric motor. In the system, the generator is driven by a fuel-efficient diesel or LPG engine. A control unit regulates the electric power which is transmitted to the electric drive motor as needed. Thanks to the low fuel consumption, the CO2 emission is drastically reduced in comparison to comparable models.

First hybrid truck from serial production with energy recuperation.
The RX70 Hybrid is the first counter balance truck produced in series to feature energy recuperation and electric power transmission as a hybrid truck. When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the truck is electrically slowed down - wear free. During the deceleration, the kinetic energy is transformed into electric energy which is then fed into the high capacity capacitors (Ultra Caps) mounted on the rear of the truck. Ultra Caps are able to quickly absorb and release high currents. This is important if the truck accelerates and stops frequently (e.g. loading and unloading HGVs). Fair grounds often demand for this type of work and are therefore the ideal place of application for the RX70 Hybrid. In combination with an extremely efficient utilisation of the internal combustion engine, the energy recuperation provides additional potential to save up to 15 percent of fuel compared to a standard RX70.

For more information on the RX70 visit: http://www.stillforklifttrucks.co.uk/press/rx70-efficient...

Watch the RX70 in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsj3vjBbWog



Blue-Q – Saving energy at the ‘push of a button’.
With the energy saving mode Blue-Q, STILL offers another means to save power. The driver can activate this mode by pressing a button. Blue-Q does not only affect the driving characteristics, but also intelligently switches electric devices on and off. For example, this can be the seat heater which is switched off when the driver leaves the cabin. Optimising the characteristics of the IC engine, will reduce the fuel consumption up to twenty percent, depending on the application profile and the equipment of the truck. Less wear and longer maintenance intervals will reduce costs further and improve the economic feasibility of the truck.

Transport control system to optimise truck utilisation.
Together with the RX70 Hybrid, Kuehne + Nagel in Hannover also installed a new truck control system which amongst others optimises travel routes for the trucks. The communication in-between the trucks themselves and with the control centre is handled by mobile GRPS radio data terminals. Oliver Hoffmann explains: “To provide the function of the mobile radio data terminals on the trucks during long lasting applications, we have equipped all the trucks with on-board 12V power supply and supports inside the cabins to hold the terminals. This allows recharging the radio data terminals during the application.” Transport jobs are entered into the transport control system either manually or via IT interfaces. Lars Reichelt, the Traffic manager at Kuehne + Nagel Hannover, explains: “The essential benefit of the new system is the dynamic calculation of optimised transport sequences in real time. If a new transport requirement is registered in the system, or if there is a delay or a traffic slow-down anywhere, the system re-calculates the new optimisation based on all the transport requirements. The control system guides the trucks to take the shortest routes. Amongst other measures we provide our contribution to reducing the emission of CO2 by this optimisation.”

For all your forklift hire needs visit us: http://www.stillforklifttrucks.co.uk/forklift-hire
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