INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS I
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS I FORKLIFT TEST 02 Located in the middle of the steering wheel, the function switches are used to raise and lower the fork 03 The backrest with adjustable height has a folding seat to provide additional comfort for longer distances 04 A new feature is the color display, which shows the operating status and load weight and allows for various settings good working position on the large, completely level floor plate. The edges are rounded and the entry/exit is conveniently positioned somewhat lower. Compared to the previous model, the cushioning of the plate has been improved and it now offers the user more comfort. This is easy to notice, for example if the building floor is not quite level or the truck crosses joining points or thresholds. The rear wall has a premolded back rest (Image 03) which provides a comfortable working position. The height is also fully adjustable. A fold-out seat is built into the armrest for longer distances or if the driver prefers a sitting position. In this case the driver’s knees will inadvertently touch the battery compartment, although in practical terms there is no further inconvenience. The storage compartment mounted on the battery lid is made of a flexible plastic that is pleasant to the touch. In terms of safety, a handle on the backrest provides an addi- P1 = 12 of 24 pick positions controlled via pedestrian button P2 = 18 of 24 pick positions controlled via pedestrian button P3 = 22 of 24 pick positions controlled via pedestrian button tional holding point when driving in reverse. Not conducive to safety, on the other hand, is the sharp bottom edge of the footrest for the driver’s shoe. The manufacturer is aware of this point of criticism and the defect is being eliminated. From color display to safety Obviously the most striking feature of the stacker is the new central color display (Image 04). It shows the driver all important information and can also be used to initiate various drive programs with pushbuttons. The programs can also be selected in combination with the new ECO mode. The additional functions such as the DayLed system and Red-Spot safety light can also be turned on in the display. In the middle of the improved JET Pilot steering wheel there are function switches for raising and lowering the fork (Image 02). The operator simply double clicks to move the fork to its highest position. Two buttons can optionally be positioned on either side of the backrest to allow the picker to move the stacker between two pick positions. Then there is no need to get in the truck again. This increases picking performance for short distances. In the new ECE the pedestrian buttons (Image 05) are now arranged at a 45° angle, which makes them easier to operate. The Curve Control system, which reduces travel speed when driving through curves, has been combined with the load sensor. The load sensor not only transmits the approximate weight of the load on the forks to the display, it also affects the regulation of Curve Control. The extent to which speed is reduced now depends on both the 44 f+h Intralogistics 4/2015
FORKLIFT TEST I INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS 05 The buttons for pedestrian mode are arranged at a 45° angle, which makes them more convenient to operate steering angle and the weight resting on the forks. Regarding weight: The overall weight of the truck was also reduced over the course of the complete re-engineering by about 80 kg. This improves energy consumption according to the manufacturer. For the same reason, developers opted for new fork rollers with lower rolling resistance. Finally, the internally developed electronics and software were updated. Two drive motors are available with 2.8 and 3.2 kW (Drive+). Test results The new Jungheinrich ECE 225 is faster, more powerful and easier to operate. In Full Power mode the energy consumption is about 27% below the average of all trucks we have tested so far in this class, while performance is about 10% above the average. In ECO mode the energy savings is even 50%, at a performance level comparable to the average values in this stacker segment. Thus both settings offer significant advantages. We also examined the performance capability of the pedestrian function. As long as the pick slots are spaced at least five meters apart and storage locations of this type account for at least 50% (measured by the total number), the function works efficiently: Productivity rises by 10 to 20%, depending on the density. Consumption drops by a further 10% because the truck is accelerating and driving more gently. A further increase in efficiency could be achieved if the manufacturer raised the travel speed from 3.8 to a good 4 km/h and the machine were also equipped with remote control. Then the employee wouldn’t have to go back to the stacker, but could go directly to the next pick position instead. We suspect it is only a question of time until this feature will be available. An in-house lithium-ion battery is available immediately for the “Li-Ion-ready” stacker series. This type of battery has considerably more energy efficiency and is also capable of reabsorbing regenerative energy, P1 = 12 of 24 pick positions controlled via pedestrian button P2 = 18 of 24 pick positions controlled via pedestrian button P3 = 22 of 24 pick positions controlled via pedestrian button Evaluation + High productivity + Low consumption + Easy operation – Sharp bottom edge of footrest as occurs during braking. Due to its electrical properties, the lithium-ion battery is especially well suited for interim charging during a coffee break or lunch. Generally the battery has already absorbed enough energy during these short charge cycles to finish the rest of the work shift. That eliminates downtime for a battery change or extended battery recharging. Text/Photos: Theo Egberts, Andersom Testing About Jungheinrich Jungheinrich is one of the world’s leading companies in the industrial truck, warehousing and material flow engineering sectors. As a manufacturing service and solution provider in the field of intralogistics, the company, based in Hamburg, Germany, supports its customers with a comprehensive product range that includes forklift trucks, shelving systems, services and consulting. The Jungheinrich share is traded on all German stock exchanges. MULTIMEDIA CONTENT External video: Learn more about the achievement spectrum of the enterprise f+h Intralogistics 4/2015 45
