The ETV 216i is the core product in the Vaillant new fleet
Global energy solutions company Vaillant Group has added 26 new lithium-ion machines to its UK operations in line with its plans to become a carbon-neutral plant by 2025.
Working with Jungheinrich, Vaillant Industrial is poised to retire its lead-acid fleet and become a 100% lithium-ion site while also gaining economic and operational benefits, including a more stable and efficient power source that is faster and easier to use.
The new fleet has increased the capacity on some of its larger trucks from 2.5 T to 3.5 T through a combination of ETV 216i reach trucks and conventional counterbalances, allowing the vehicles to cater for the pressed steel works and tools. The ETV 216i is the core product in the new fleet and is the first reach truck in the world with an integrated lithium-ion battery, aiding the progression towards sustainability goals.
The first five trucks and all tow tractors have been operational for more than a month. During the transition, Vaillant also was able to take advantage of Jungheinrich’s Power By The Hour initiative - a flexible way to pay for only the hours the truck is used for - to ensure it remained operational.
With the new fleet, Vaillant has been able to eliminate battery change from its operations by utilising opportunity charging.
Vaillant also completed a full warehouse construction upgrade project with Jungheinrich which introduced a new logistics and racking system that optimises storage up to 11 m and can accommodate the new ETV 216i trucks. This new and optimised warehouse has increased capacity from 1,100 pallet locations to 4,000.
Adrian Ancliff, head of production logistics and scheduling at Vaillant Industrial, comments: “We have certainly achieved what we wanted to from our partnership with Jungheinrich, and the end design, construction and way our new warehouse operates is fantastic and has exceeded our expectations. The team was very responsive and excelled to keep us operational throughout.
“Being able to become a 100% lithium-ion site … helps us move much closer to our sustainable goals. Looking to 2022, we plan to expand the fleet and will continue to use Jungheinrich as our main provider.”