At that time, the wagons were still pulled by one to four horsepower. Today, the Holenstein Group is a leading full-service logistics provider in Eastern Switzerland and is also active throughout Europe, with locations in Wil, Schwarzenbach, Schaffhausen and Constance. The range of services offered by the family-owned company extends from incoming goods inspection and storage to order picking, assembly, packing, labeling and packaging through to transport to the end customer. At the infrastructure level, more than 55,000 pallet spaces and around 40,000 m² of conventional storage space are available. 300 employees ensure reliable and efficient handling of logistics, transportation and customs clearance services.

Variable use and highly maneuverable

Following the order and delivery, Holenstein has now also been using five EDP-P low lift pallet trucks and one EDD-P high lift pallet truck with a lifting height of 1,800 mm for double-decker use at its headquarters in Wil since October 2017. Two pallets can be picked up and transported in parallel. Four of the low lift pallet trucks are equipped with forks with a length of 1,150 mm. The fifth in the group has a fork length of 2,350 mm. These electric pedestrian pallet trucks are each equipped with a driver's platform. When this is folded up, the device can be used as a regular pedestrian pallet truck. In the event of increased speed requirements, such as seasonal peaks, the platform can be folded down so that higher travel speeds or handling capacities are possible. The side drive and a lateral support roller for terrain compensation ensure high stability and optimum traction - even on slopes. The maintenance-free three-phase drive unit and the wheels are integrated into the chassis and therefore protected against damage.

The double swivel castor guarantees a high level of robustness and maneuverability. "Both vehicle variants from the modular system of the proven ED series are also characterized by a compact design, which results in maximum flexibility even in confined spaces, high user-friendliness and optimum driving characteristics even with changing requirements," adds forklift specialist Reto Jenni (Stöcklin).

Safety and freedom from maintenance in demand
"The special driving characteristics and the sophisticated operating concept are one side of the coin," adds Peter Holenstein. "However, the innovative battery technology is also particularly noteworthy, as it brings significant advantages not only from a technical but also from an economic point of view." The integrated lithium-ion energy system from Stöcklin Logistik replaces conventional lead-acid batteries and, compared to lithium batteries offered elsewhere, does not use heavy metal combinations.

Reto Jenni explains: "While other manufacturers use lithium cobalt cells, which are not entirely safe, at Stöcklin Logistik we use lithium iron phosphate cells - LiFePO4 for short." As a result, maximum safety is guaranteed throughout. A further advantage is possible energy savings of more than 30 percent and a 5-fold increase in service life. Saved battery changes save time, which can be used for other value-adding productive activities. There is also no need to refill water. "This climate- and resource-friendly technology also reduces harmful carbon dioxide emissions, so that in addition to economic aspects, the incredibly important issue of sustainability to protect the climate and the environment is also taken into account," Reto Jenni continues.

In addition, the power requirement for charging is low and the process itself takes a maximum of two hours. The service life is estimated at around 5,000 charging cycles. Active battery management protects the battery and monitors it. Temperature, voltage, current and state of charge are continuously measured in order to rule out overheating, overcharging and/or deep discharge.

Efficiency and sustainability in the processes
"High availability, simple battery handling, fewer battery changes, faster charging times, reduced power consumption and transparency regarding the status of the battery - these were our requirements for the next generation of forklift trucks in our fleet," summarizes Peter Holenstein. "The extremely robustly designed platform devices from Stöcklin Logistik with integrated Li-ion technology meet these requirements exactly." The vehicles also support the logistics and transportation company's maxim of always being able to react flexibly to changing customer requirements and reliably meet deadlines at short notice according to the just-in-time principle. No less important is the fact that the company can now also operate in a more cost-conscious and environmentally friendly manner in the area of forklift management.