Jungheinrich also focused on safety and comfort when developing the riders. Fixed side protection walls on three sides increase safety and comfort for the drivers of the ERD 220i. Jungheinrich therefore also speaks of the "most compact, safest and most comfortable truck in its class".

Partnership-based development work

As a pilot customer, Dachser played a key role in the development of the new ERD 220i from Jungheinrich. André Bilz, Team Leader Fleet Management Terminal Equipment at Dachser, reports on the expectations that drove the transport professional - and whether these were met.

material flow: What intralogistics challenges does Dachser have to overcome every day?

André Bilz: Our fleet of industrial trucks is mainly used in the areas of goods handling and warehousing. The handling business is very space-intensive due to the block storage system, which is why it is important to optimize space requirements as much as possible. This also includes the routes, for example. Vehicles with a compact chassis and small turning radius are therefore essential for us.

mfl: Apart from compactness, what is important to you in an industrial truck?

Bilz: Occupational safety, because our employees are our most valuable asset - their protection is correspondingly important. Due to the space-intensive use in our goods handling warehouses, the use of vehicles with fixed platforms was very limited. In addition, maintenance is essential due to the size of the fleet: moving parts - such as folding platforms or side arms - are easily damaged and generate follow-up costs.

mfl: Since March 2019, you have been involved as a pilot customer in the development of the new ERD 220i from Jungheinrich. What was the motivation for your participation?

Bilz: The double-deck truck type is our bread-and-butter vehicle, which makes up a large part of our fleet. In contrast to the automotive industry, where vehicles have relatively short product life cycles so that necessary changes can be made at short intervals, the situation is different in the forklift truck industry. Anything you miss in development is regretted for years. That's why it was important for Dachser to be at the forefront of the development of Jungheinrich's new truck type in order to obtain a truck that would be optimal for us over a long period of time.

mfl: How did the pilot phase go?

Bilz: We were able to test the respective prototypes of several development stages in real operation at our sites in Germany and France. Thanks to a close relationship with product management, we were always able to provide direct feedback so that the Jungheinrich team could incorporate our suggestions and wishes into the next vehicle version during development.

mfl: What were the suggestions, for example?

Bilz: The main focus was on the turning radius; we made specific specifications regarding the dimensions the vehicle had to meet our requirements. We also gave feedback on ergonomics and occupational safety, for example with regard to the suspension of the driver's platform and the operating and steering philosophy. And finally, we also provided feedback on details such as storage areas. With the ERD 220i, we now have a vehicle ex works that is very suitable for us and has the potential to become a standard vehicle at Dachser.

mfl: And how do you assess the vehicle's potential on the market?

Bilz: All users are concerned with work safety, maintenance costs and compactness - so many will benefit from it. I assume that the ERD 220i will play a major role for many customers operating in the double-decker segment.

mfl: At the same time, the new ERD 220i fits in well with Dachser's lithium-ion strategy ...

Bilz: That's right. We have set ourselves the goal of converting the entire European fleet to lithium-ion by the end of 2022. Many of our trucks already have lithium-ion technology on board. The new truck from Jungheinrich will accelerate the planned integration.

mfl: How would you sum up the test phase - with a view to the final vehicle?

Bilz: With the ERD 220i and its combination of compactness, safety and ergonomics, I believe that the manufacturer Jungheinrich currently has a competitive advantage in this truck segment. I also expect some savings in terms of the total cost of ownership (TCO), which plays a decisive role in the purchasing strategy of many customers - simply because the ERD 220i no longer has any moving parts. We expect this to lead to a noticeable reduction in violent damage caused by the new vehicle type.

The article appeared in materialfluss 4/22.