The European STILL Refurbishment Centre for used trucks.

STILL officially opened its new European refurbishment centre for used trucks in Rokietnica, near Poznan, Poland, this month.

The 2,500 sqm (26,910 sqft.) centre has the capacity to refurbish around 2,000 trucks annually.

According to STILL, the decision to choose Rokietnica as the site for the new centre reflects the forklift manufacturer's appreciation of the STILL Poland branch, which has refurbished used machines since 2007.

Piotr Piotrowski, manager of the refurbishment centre, says: "Twenty workshops, each with an area of 36 sqm (388 sqft.), enable the efficient overhaul of every truck. In that way, we can also respond to customers' wishes in the refurbishment process and can take account of special features for the future use of the trucks."?

Different machines can undergo a full engineering overhaul simultaneously at the centre's 20 workstations. The trucks then receive a visual update in the truck wash unit and paint shop.??

The new centre also has space to store trucks. There is space to hold a representative exhibition, demonstrate forklifts and conduct the various quality and safety tests.

Demand for used machines is growing, especially in Southern and Eastern Europe as well as in the growth markets of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

Marco Riewe, manager of STILL GmbH's rental and used trucks division, says that over 50% of trucks sold today are already in leasing or rental contracts.

The CeMAT trade fair, which is held in Hanover on 19-23rd May, takes this trend into account and has reserved an exhibition area especially for the presentation of used industrial trucks.

STILL says refurbishing forklifts is good for the environment and conserves natural resources. "In steel manufacture, around 2.2 kg (4.9 lbs.) of carbon dioxide are emitted per kilogram of steel. If the weight of steel in all the STILL used trucks sold in Germany in 2012 is added together, the result is that around 26,000 tons of CO2 were saved compared to the production of new machines."