Mockup made from lightweight materials
The newly established service department was therefore provided with its own premises. This included an administration and training area as well as various workstations and two indoor cranes. A so-called mock-up was made in the rooms from lightweight materials - in other words, a scale model to represent reality in advance. Service Manager Rüdiger Doll: "Everything always looks ideal on a plan. So we tried to simulate the layout and equipment in order to avoid mistakes in advance." The mock-ups were moved here and there, the work processes were simulated and the internal routes were recreated.

"We developed a target image for the equipment and approached two companies with it - the experts from Krieg immediately understood what we wanted and needed," says Doll. Following the team's wishes and ideas, the specialists from Krieg got in touch with J.D. Neuhaus. Based on drawings, CAD drafts and parts lists, the decision was then made in favor of the Profiplan workstation system.

Reliability and stability under dynamic forces
The hoists from J.D. Neuhaus can lift loads from 125 kilograms to 100 tons. The various types of equipment are both quite compact and easy to handle in their installation space and weigh several tons. Especially for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and under the toughest conditions, the safety-relevant products must comply with complex safety requirements. All hoists must undergo an annual inspection in Germany, and some require repair, maintenance or a general overhaul. This takes place at the customer's premises - and in many cases also at the main plant. "In the case of very large hoists, they are completely dismantled in our service department, the individual parts are checked, cleaned, fitted with new parts if necessary, reassembled and returned to the customer," explains Doll.

Coherent overall concept
In addition to four large Profiplan workbenches, cabinets were also installed for each employee, as well as additional tables for assembly, tool rails, compressed air supply and storage areas for the grease gun, for example. The workbenches are manually height-adjustable. The overall design of the service center with its shorter routes, eliminated walking distances, ergonomic aspects, streamlined processes and optimal reach spaces has been well received by the employees.

The article appeared in materialfluss 11-12/20.