One standard for all: Bernhard Vincenz can only dream of such simple solutions. The engineer is Head of Logistics at J. u. A. Frischeis GmbH (JAF) at the company headquarters in Stockerau and is also jointly responsible for technical purchasing at the international timber wholesaler's 59 locations. In this role, Vincenz deals with new developments and the configuration of industrial trucks, among other things. The Salzburg-Bergheim, Linz and Stockerau sites, which were supplied with individual trucks by Hubtex, show just how different the requirements for the "ideal forklift" can be. The Salzburg-Bergheim branch ordered an MQ 70 multidirectional stacker with a removable order picking platform. "Picking directly from the shelf saves us a lot of time," says branch manager Thorsten Klingbeil. Without the platform, the parcels would first have to be placed in a suitable location and picked from there. There is no space between the shelves for this, so long journeys would have to be accepted.

Platform adapted to customer requirements
The shape of the platform was optimized for the local conditions. "Hubtex designed a customized platform with rounded corners that allows us to turn comfortably in the aisle despite the limited space available," reports Klingbeil. In addition to the special design, the platform offers a number of other details that Hubtex implemented especially for JAF. These include the two backrests on the two side control panels, which can be adjusted in a single movement and adapted to the operator's body size. The sturdy tubular steel construction, with which the heavy wooden panels can be secured against slipping, is just as easy to adjust. A special feature of the platform is that the order pickers' workstations are angled downwards so that they do not have to bend down as far when stacking the boards.

The HX steering system, which is available as an option for the MQ 70, makes things even easier. The patented steering system makes it possible to change from longitudinal to transverse travel without stopping, which speeds up and simplifies maneuvering. The HX steering also minimizes wheel wear, as the direction of travel is changed while driving and the wheels therefore no longer turn on the spot.

Central point of contact
Hager involved around ten of his employees in the planning process and took their suggestions and ideas into account. The number of contact persons at Hubtex was considerably smaller: "We were able to discuss all changes and special requests with just one contact person," recalls Hager. Hubtex's "mobile project team" is helpful here. At the headquarters in Fulda, project technicians support the field sales team in the quotation phase in the development of special solutions. Depending on the project requirements and progress, project technicians and the field sales team visit the customer together to work out the best possible solution. The project technician then ensures direct communication with the design and development department - allowing Hubtex to implement experience and requirements from the market in vehicle development. The uncomplicated cooperation and the advantages of the HX steering system are also appreciated in Linz. The Frischeis branch there has put a new MQ 80 into operation, which is also equipped with the innovative steering system.

Additional rollers for gentle lowering
The Linz site has a different layout to Salzburg-Bergheim, meaning that the distances between shelving compartments and picking stations are significantly shorter. Against this background, Dipl. Ing. Kapeller also decided against purchasing an order picking platform. In Linz, the required wooden panels are lifted from the racking pallet by pallet with the MQ 80 and picked at ground level. To ensure that the heavy pallets are lowered as gently and carefully as possible, the engineer had additional guide rollers installed in the mast spar, which allow the mast to be retracted more gently under full load.

Faster without turning
Another picking method is used at the company headquarters in Stockerau. Founded in 1948, the site is both the largest branch and the company headquarters of the family business. In warehouse logistics alone, 89 employees work here, moving around 9,700 m³ of wood per month in two shifts during the season. Boards with a length of up to three meters are picked in Stockerau using mobile platforms that allow work to be carried out on both sides of the racking aisle. "This means that the devices never have to turn, which significantly increases picking performance," emphasizes Logistics Manager Bernhard Vincenz. The new machine is a Hubtex EZK 30. The special features of the induction-guided machine include the integrated scissor lift table with a useful stroke of 1,000 mm and the integrated device for strapping the picked stacks of boards. The finished order is removed using a separate stacker. This machine is also used in a very similar form at the company's Hungarian site in Dunaharaszti.

Shared exchangeable batteries
The EZK 35 is always operated by a two-man team. This also applies to changing the battery, which weighs around 2.2 tons and is also used in an identical design on the MQ 45 multidirectional sideloader. This type of truck is used in Stockerau to restock the shelves and uses the same pool of exchangeable batteries as the EZK 35. When the battery has a residual charge of 10 to 15 percent, the team drives to the charging station and exchanges the energy storage unit for a fresh one.

JAF Imholz in Leipzig 2 also uses Hubtex models from the MQ 70 series with a removable picking platform. These are inductively guided and equipped with a mobile personnel protection system. The JAF branch in Kramsach was one of the first sites to use a Hubtex multidirectional forklift in 2006. Due to the positive experience and reliability, the Kramsach site again opted for Hubtex and two MQ 70s with HX steering were put into operation.