Jungheinrich is launching a new battery-powered, pedestrian-controlled truck in June 2010. As a double-deck forklift, the ERD 220 can be used for a wide variety of applications — for example for loading and unloading lorries with two different lading levels or for combined pallet truck/forklift applications. “On a purely technical level this truck can be classified as an electric pallet/electric pedestrian-controlled truck”, explains Stefan Hirt, Head of Product Management for Pedestrian Trucks.

The new truck was designed for pedestrian as well as stand-on operation. When the platform is folded out, the ERD 220 can attain speeds of more than 12 kilometres per hour. “Because of this and due to its double-deck design, the truck is especially efficient when it comes to the economical transhipment or transporting of goods,” adds Hirt.

Jungheinrich Double-deck Truck: Ready for Any Application

The ERD 220 owes its top speeds as well as its dynamic, yet energy-saving driving characteristics primarily to its proprietary Jungheinrich three-phase AC drive technology as well as its control electronics. For particularly intensive applications the user can optionally equip the truck with special high-performance batteries which have a maximum nominal capacity of 465 Ah.

As Stefan Hirt comments: “In combination with state-of-the-art Jungheinrich three-phase AC technology, this means longer operating times and at the same time minimised energy consumption.” The ERD 220 furthermore offers the option of lateral battery removal — particularly useful for multi-shift operation. Starting in September 2010 a reduced-performance, low-cost version — the ERD 220 Basis — will also be available for mainly lightweight operations.

Jungheinrich ERD 220: Safety and Luxury in a Single Package

In developing the new ERD 220, Jungheinrich succeeded in combining the highest safety standards with an outstanding level of driver comfort, as was confirmed by a number of field tests. The truck for example comes with electric steering for non-strenuous operation, even when transporting heavy loads. As part of the truck’s standard operating mode, electric steering requires only minimal exertion on the part of the operator, allowing for effortless, precise control. And Jungheinrich Curve Control automatically lowers the truck’s maximum speed on corners, dependent on the steering angle.

In addition to its cushioned stand-on platform, the ERD 220’s entire drive system is protected by the ShockProtect feature. “This almost completely relieves the strain on the operator’s spinal column,” declares Hirt. Further safety features include reduced speed when the load is raised, reduced travel speed in pedestrian operating mode, good visibility through the mast due to the cut-out battery hood and, finally, SpeedControl, which protects against any unintentional rolling, ensuring reliable operation on ramps.

The new Jungheinrich double-deck truck boasts an array of additional ergonomic features, including an option for the highly responsive lifting and lowering of loads. A further option involves the gentle lowering of sensitive loads, consisting of an automatic reduction of the lowering speed over the last few millimetres.

The new Jungheinrich truck was also designed for intensive ramp operations, which can be seen in its rugged design: The chassis is made of high-grade 8 mm steel and the box forks of sectional steel, allowing the ERD 220 to handle the heaviest applications with payloads of up to 2,000 kilogrammes. And the patented ShockProtect system substantially reduces the demands on all the truck’s technical components as well as its entire chassis.

Jungheinrich ranks among the world’s leading companies in the material handling equipment, warehousing and material flow engineering sectors. The company is a service provider with manufacturing operations as well as an intralogistics solution provider, which offers its customers a comprehensive range of forklift trucks, shelving systems, services and consulting. Jungheinrich shares are traded on all German stock exchanges.