HIGH-LIFT PALLET TRUCKS

At DEUTZ in Ulm, thousands of engines are remanufactured annually. For the various process steps, the engines must be transported safely and reliably within the production facility. Engine weights range from 280 kg for the small 1011 engine to 1,600 kg for the traditional air-cooled 12-cylinder.

For internal engine transport, Genkinger developed a custom-built electric high-lift pallet truck. The special vehicle transports DEUTZ engines from the conveyor belt to the assembly station and from there to the lifting and lowering system of the paint shop. The remanufactured engines pass through the process chain within a few working days.

The Genkinger high-lift pallet truck replaces a significantly larger standard forklift that previously picked up the engines via an extended traverse. Due to the partially narrow aisles in DEUTZ production, a compact yet powerful solution was required.

With dimensions of 1,000 mm width and 1,800 mm length, as well as a height of up to 3,000 mm with the mast extended, the electric high-lift pallet truck meets the requirements for a space-saving design. The overhang of the crane hook traverse is only 600 mm.

Even during cornering, the special high-lift pallet truck offers high maneuverability. The turning radius of 1,585 mm enables safe maneuvering even in tight areas of production.

A special feature of the Genkinger electric high-lift pallet truck is the special lifting unit with hydraulic rotating device. A cantilevered boom enables the picked-up DEUTZ engines to be rotated 90 degrees.

This significantly reduces the number of steering movements required during engine transport. The boom guides and positions the engine suspended from the hoist precisely. The compact design and short travel distances of the rotation function also reduce the swinging of the various hoists.

An automatic steering-angle-dependent speed reduction provides additional safety. At the appropriate steering angle, the travel speed is reduced to as low as 1 km/h.

The special high-lift pallet truck improves not only maneuverability but also visibility during engine transport. The operator can view the transported goods from all sides. This enables safer execution of travel movements and positioning within production.

At the same time, the compact design ensures that sufficient maneuvering space remains even in narrow aisles. The electric high-lift pallet truck thus combines a space-saving design with safe and precise engine transport.

The design improves not only the vehicle’s maneuverability but also visibility during transport. The operator can view the picked-up engine from all sides. This further increases workplace safety in the production area.

The custom solution also offers advantages in terms of service. The high-lift pallet truck requires lower service effort than the previously used equipment. In addition, the vehicle can be operated by virtually all involved employees.

With the custom-built electric high-lift pallet truck, DEUTZ thus receives a compact and flexible solution for the safe transport of heavy engines within production.