Jungheinrich drives growth with new counterbalance forklifts

The company's year-on-year recovery to 2011 saw major results in some areas. Regions seeing the most significant growth in market volume for 2011 were North America (up 29% year on 2010) and Eastern Europe, up by 39%. Elsewhere, its share of the Asian market grew by 22%, China by 22% and South America by 18%. In terms of product range, warehouse equipment – reach and pallet trucks – is where Jungheinrich has scored traditionally and this still dominates, accounting for 61% of group sales. Electric counterbalance trucks comprise 19%, with IC-engine trucks 21%. Group results were presented at an international press conference recently, where the company also demonstrated its 2012 launches which include additions to the IC-engine and electric counterbalance ranges – both available in the UK. The IC-engine model – called the VFG 5s – is available in both diesel and LPG, and can lift up to 5 tonnes. Featuring hydrostatic drive technology, the vehicle's emissions already comply with legislation coming into force next year (EU Stage IIIB), which will see the limit for emitted soot particles reduced by 95%. The VFG 5s also offers improved productivity: engine speed automatically increases during lifting, and all mast functions, truck acceleration and braking and changes of direction are smooth. To enhance handling performance and to maximise energy saving, five operating programmes enable the driver to set the truck's performance characteristics to match the load and the operating environment. Jungheinrich UK's marketing manager Craig Johnson says the series sets "a new benchmark in IC-engine counterbalance truck design", highlighting its cleaner emissions and reduced fuel consumption. Jungheinrich is also launching a new electric model, the EFG series 4, which can lift up to 3 tonnes and has a short chassis option for improved manoeuvrability. The company says tests show this new electric series is 10% more energy efficient than the models it replaces. Features include a new device to enable faster battery changes: the SnapFit adaptor is a mechanism fitted to a standard pallet truck that locks in to the underside of a battery. All series 4 electric trucks now have Jungheinrich's 'curve control' technology fitted as standard – this automatically reduces the truck's drive speed as it enters a corner by simultaneously monitoring speed, wheel position and steering angle. Johnson adds: "When a customer invests in a Jungheinrich truck they expect to get a top quality product. Our new series 4 truck offers quality and performance from a truck designed to meet the requirements of clients operating in a broad range of industry sectors."