Central German haulage company Reitz has taken delivery of three Palfinger truck mounted forklifts (TMFs) which are being used to distribute technical and medical gases in the area for the Westfalen Group. Reitz’s driver Waldemar Kirsch delivers pallets of bottled gas to diverse operations such as hospitals, commercial landscaping companies and vehicle repair shops, but the one thing that they all have in common is the requirement for reliable, timely deliveries, deposited exactly where they are needed.

Reitz’s new trucks are the latest generation F3 201 PRO models, which benefit from a low net weight of just 1,635kg, a load capacity of 2,000kg and a lifting height of up to 3,700mm. They are low maintenance and powered by fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly 3-cylinder diesel engines, and with a top speed of 6 km/h, they can be driven on public roads without any special licence.

The truck’s ability to work in narrow confines (the 180-degree steering lock makes it highly manoeuvrable) as well as in noise sensitive environments is a major advantage and guarantees a quick turnaround and a high level of productivity. At Warendorf hospital for example, it manoeuvers easily past parked ambulances to set down pallets of medical gases directly in front of the storeroom before Kirsch drives it back to his HGV which is parked a hundred metres away.

It’s a similar scenario at Johannes Wulff, a repairs business: Kirsch parks the lorry wherever there is room, demounts the TMF, removes the load of technical gases from the semi-trailer, drives to the warehouse, exchanges the load for empty bottles, stows them safely in the delivery lorry, and remounts the TMF before he is on his way to the next stop.

“Our customers rely on getting punctual deliveries, and the Palfinger TMF is an indispensable partner, enabling us to safely set down goods ‘on the doorstep’. They also appreciate the fact that they don’t have to provide their own machines or manpower for offloading,” says Kirsch, who adds: “From my point of view the independence it offers means I can keep to a tight and busy schedule which can entail as many as 16 deliveries in one shift.”

The centrally positioned driver’s seat is a unique Palfinger feature and together with the clear view mast offers 360° all-round visibility for added load-handling safety. Reitz also chose the option of zinc-plated support arms to protect against corrosion, LED lights and paintwork to customer specification.

Safe delivery of hazardous products and environmentally friendly logistics are absolute priorities for the Westfalen Group and the addition of the new Palfinger models to Reitz’s fleet enables this commitment to be fulfilled.

Palfinger

About the Author: John Loughran