Jungheinrich has premiered the FalcOn, its electric counterbalance, heavy-duty forklift which has been developed for application scenarios “in which electric forklifts have previously reached their limits”.

The German materials handling equipment maker says the FalcOn is based on the current EFG Series 5 forklift and was developed to test the integration of high-voltage technology under realistic conditions.

The FalcOn has a load capacity of 5T with a load centre of 600mm - which Jungheinrich notes is a typical requirement profile for heavy handling processes - and has a driving speed up to 26km/h.

It has a lifting speed of 0.6 m/s under load and, the maker states, “demonstrates the productivity potential that can be tapped into with stable, high-performance hydraulics, especially during high-frequency lifting and lowering operations in continuous use”.

The FalcOn uses a full integrated drive concept.

“At its heart is an actively cooled high-voltage system in which all central drive components are water-cooled,” Jungheinrich explains. “This keeps the power output stable even under high continuous loads and high outside temperatures, without the power limitations typical of electric forklifts.”

Andreas Schiller, global portfolio lead counterbalance heavy trucks at Jungheinrich, adds: “With the FalcOn, we want to show that electric forklifts can be a real alternative to combustion engines even in the toughest operating profiles”.

“To this end, we have developed a completely new, optimally coordinated overall system that is unique in this form,” Schiller continues. 

“The counterbalance truck is visible proof of the performance potential of high-voltage technology.”