In a smooth movement, the ERD 220i picks up a load carrier, sets it down elsewhere, and skillfully maneuvers to the freed-up pallet. It effortlessly picks it up, turns silently, accelerates with a gentle hum, and heads towards one of the loading ramps. Space is scarce in Noerpel's transshipment hall in Ulm. But the compact ERD 220i doesn't need much of it. It shows its mettle when it comes to performance, and that's what operational manager Florian Harrer counts on.
“In 24 hours, my employees handle up to 5,000 shipments in three shifts,” he explains proudly. “Our hall might not be the largest within the Noerpel group, but it's the one with the highest goods turnover.”
For the transport and logistics service provider Noerpel, around 2,800 employees work at 18 locations in Germany and two branches in Switzerland. Noerpel has had a close partnership with Jungheinrich for years.
“We demand a lot from our equipment: they are in use 24 hours a day, six days a week, and must be available at all times. We have had the best experiences with both Jungheinrich products and the company's service,” says Harrer. “When we were offered to test the new ERD 220i electric high-lift truck from Jungheinrich, we immediately agreed.”
Agile, comfortable,
safe
Even in the test phase, the ERD 220i impressed Harrer and his employees:
“The overall concept convinced us.”
The POWERLINE vehicle ERD i is about 30 centimeters shorter than its predecessor model and is therefore the most compact forklift in its class.
“This is advantageous for the narrow driveways in the transshipment hall,” explains Harrer, adding, “The ERD 220i achieves a top speed of 14 km/h and is very safe with the stand's three-sided protection. Overall, I like the vehicle's safety concept.”
With the help of a sensor, the ERD 220i, for instance, recognizes when it is in a truck. It independently activates its headlight and reduces speed to ensure safe and back-friendly driving over the ramp bend.
Charging during the break
The integrated lithium-ion battery of the POWERLiNE ERD i fits into Noerpel's sustainability concept.
“We are gradually converting both our transport and intralogistics vehicles to alternative drives,” explains Florian Harrer, and he is impressed that sustainability can be so practical.
The battery can be fully charged within 80 minutes. More importantly, it can be repeatedly topped up. For this purpose, Jungheinrich has installed 30 fast-charging stations in the transshipment hall.
“This makes it easy for my employees: simply plug in the cable before every break, and the
vehicle is always ready for use.”
Meanwhile, Noerpel has converted its entire fleet of 30 vehicles to POWERLiNE vehicles ERD i. And Harrer summarizes.
“The vehicles are reliable, fast, agile, safe, and they save us around 30 percent energy.”
30 POWERLiNE electric high-lift trucks ERD 220i with integrated Li-ion battery plus 30 fast-charging stations and an active load management solution reduce Noerpel’s CO2 footprint despite heavy utilization in a 3-shift operation. Narrow driveways, dark freight rooms, and loading the trucks over ramps demand high requirements for safety and comfort from the vehicles. The solution: automatic speed adjustment and sensor-based headlights.
In conversation about this: Florian Harrer, operational manager of the Noerpel transshipment hall in Ulm.
What specific challenges do intralogistics vehicles face in a transshipment hall?
A transshipment hall is always very tight. The pallets are stacked in block storage throughout the hall during peak times but are loaded for further transport at different times. This means playing Tetris and relocating pallets that are in the way when a driver needs to quickly access a particular shipment. We handle around 5,000 shipments per day in three shifts, six days a week, 24 hours. The equipment operates continuously and therefore must be robust. Additionally, like all logistics companies, we want to
become more sustainable. Our fleet with 30 forklifts with corresponding drives can contribute significantly to reducing our CO2 footprint.
What advantages do the POWERLiNE vehicles ERD i with integrated lithium-ion battery offer you?
The drive concept saves my employees from changing batteries and handling lead-acid batteries. We have strategically placed 30 charging stations in our hall so that drivers can simply charge their forklifts on their way to a break – anytime. The active load management from Jungheinrich ensures that the right amount of electricity always flows and nothing is wasted. A genius solution that also impresses me as a tech enthusiast. Because the ERD 220i is more compact than its predecessor, we don't have to repack as much. It also weaves through narrow passages. My employees are impressed by its acceleration and power – and I am with the fact that they are still safe. The stand's three-sided protection and automatic speed adjustment offer safety, even when things are hectic.
And how do you rate the ERD 220i in terms of efficiency?
By using these vehicles, we save around 30 percent energy. I think that says it all.
The project at a glance
- Customer: Noerpel Group
- Industry: Transport and logistics service provider
- Company size: 2,800 employees
- Location: Ulm, Germany
