DHL and Still have established an exemplary cooperation in providing deliveries, internal transport, and automation solutions for VW in Slovakia. Still supplies the full range of stackers, warehouse technology, tugger trains, and racking systems, while DHL handles external transport right up to the loading dock.
Since 2007, STILL, in partnership with DHL Logistics (Slovakia), has been supplying the appropriate conveyor technology and efficient storage solutions for the production plant in Bratislava. "Such a long-term collaboration is always a sign of mutual trust and, for us, confirmation that we are able to respond appropriately to the requirements of key partners and meet the demands of the automotive sector," says Marián Fábry, Sales Director at STILL, regarding the partnership. He adds that the biggest challenge was to utilize the warehouse space even more efficiently and to optimize processes. Another focus is ensuring consistently high service quality over the long term.
Photos: Still
At its Bratislava plant, Volkswagen Slovakia uses a variety of vehicle types – currently over one hundred forklifts, warehouse equipment, and tugger trains. These include MX-X narrow-aisle forklifts (man-up), FM-X reach trucks, and RX 20 and RX 60 electric forklifts. The RX 20 models are the most popular – not least because of their high acceleration, top speeds of up to 20 km/h, and precise maneuverability.
The RX 60 electric forklifts, with their lifting capacity of up to 8 tons, are valued for their balanced performance, ergonomic handling, maneuverability, and energy efficiency. Both models are primarily used for loading and unloading trucks and for racking. The FM-X reach trucks have proven their worth with their Active Load Stabilization (ALS) system (the automatic balancing impulse reduces mast oscillations and shortens racking downtime by up to 80 percent), resulting in even faster material handling.
The intelligently controlled tugger trains with electric or hydraulic LiftRunner tugger train frames find ideal operating conditions in body construction for the production of small cars to supply the production line.
In narrow aisle made to measure
Together with DHL, Still developed special MX-X narrow-aisle forklifts for the Bratislava plant to handle the storage and retrieval of goods in the high-bay warehouse. The challenge was to fit as many pallets as possible into a hall with limited headroom. Therefore, the MX-X, with lifting heights of up to 11 meters, is used. "The vehicles operate in what's called semi-automatic mode. This allows the operator to move quickly and efficiently to a specific storage location," explains Still Sales Manager Marian Fábry. In conjunction with the warehouse management system, this simplifies the operators' work and increases both throughput and overall warehouse safety. The vehicles' batteries are continuously recharged while they are working in the aisle. "This saves both the time required for battery changes and the costs associated with building and operating charging stations," says Fábry.
Service for the vehicles used at Volkswagen Slovakia is carried out directly on-site by the Still service center on the factory premises. "Our technicians work in specially designed service areas that are fully equipped and meet strict requirements regarding work quality and safety," said Fábry.
