HUBTEX IS V-ZUG AG'S PREFERRED SUPPLIER OF Multidirectional FORKLIFTS

Co-determination is something quite natural in Switzerland. This applies not only to petitions for a referendum at municipal, cantonal and federal level, but also sometimes to workplace surveys. The best example is V-ZUG AG, which specialises in high-quality kitchen and washroom appliances. When the purchase of a new multidirectional sideloader was on the agenda here in 2014, the employees involved in the raw materials warehouse were involved in the decision.
Together with the economic and technical aspects, the drivers' statements were incorporated into a detailed utility value analysis. The criteria included driving comfort, ergonomics, clarity, warranty and service. The forklifts from three manufacturers that could be tested under everyday conditions were examined.

Clear vote

"In the end, there was a clear vote for Hubtex," reports Milos Krstic, who is responsible for the raw material and semi-finished goods warehouse at V-ZUG. The employees particularly liked the user-friendliness of the cab, the compact dimensions and the associated manoeuvrability of the machine. "The joystick allows the truck to be manoeuvred precisely and the air-sprung comfort seat ensures fatigue-free working," adds team leader Ivo Horat.
Shortly after the vote, a new Hubtex MQ40 with transverse seat cab and a load capacity of four tons was purchased. The equipment features include an adjustable fork carriage for long goods, which can accommodate steel profiles up to six metres long as well as plates with a width of between 450 and 2,500 millimetres. A video camera mounted on the front and a flat screen mounted in the cabin ensure a safe overview.

Modified as desired

The contractual and service partner is Rohrer-Marti AG, which acts as general importer for Hubtex in Switzerland. The company, based in Zollikofen and Echallens, not only supplied the MQ40, but also modified it to meet customer requirements. "The angle of the brake and accelerator pedals was initially too steep for us, which Rohrer-Marti changed according to our ideas without any problems," recalls Bruno Zürcher, who works as a logistician in the raw material warehouse and frequently operates the MQ40.
The main place of use for the multidirectional forklift is the sheet metal warehouse equipped with mobile racking. Against this background, the MQ40 does not require any guide rollers and can be moved freely. Its main task is to transport steel profiles and blank sheets from the warehouse to the punching machine or press shop. This ensures that there is always enough material close to the machine. "We make sure that the three-shift production does not run out of work," sums up Bruno Zürcher. Sometimes the truck also supports the counterbalanced forklifts when unloading trucks, which drive about 200 times a month to the raw material warehouse of V-ZUG. In any case, the MQ40 does not operate for more than four hours a day, which is why the battery with a nominal charge of 930 ampere hours only needs to be "recharged" every two to three days.

HUBTEX: Preferred supplier

"Overall, we only had the best experience with the MQ40 and Rohrer-Marti's service, so Hubtex was our preferred supplier for the next investment as well," explains warehouse manager Milos Krstic. About two years after the purchase of the MQ40, the coil warehouse also needed a new multidirectional sideloader, which had previously come from another manufacturer. The MQ50 with a load capacity of five tons proved to be the best choice for the heavy steel strip rolls.
With a fixed aisle width of 1,850 millimetres, the truck delivered in April 2017 has guide rollers. Ultrasonic sensors detect when the truck is in one of the four aisles equipped with cantilever racking. Then the MQ50 automatically sets all wheels to longitudinal travel and a manual change of direction is no longer possible. Just like its "little brother" from the sheet metal store, the second Hubtex also has a cross-seat cab with comfort seat and joystick control. In single-shift operation, the MQ50 supplies the press shop, which is active around the clock, with strip steel. However, the vehicle is not moved for more than three hours a day, so that the 775 ampere battery is smaller than that of the MQ40. "If there is an emergency, the MQ50 is also used in the sheet metal warehouse," reports team leader Ivo Horat. However, the reverse use of the MQ40 in the coil store is not possible due to the lower load capacity and the missing guide rollers.

On site in two hours

For this reason alone, V-ZUG expects maximum reliability from both trucks. "If the MQ50 were to fail due to a technical defect, our production would come to a standstill within a few hours," says Milos Krstic. That's why we're glad to have Rohrer-Marti at our side as a very flexible and fast service partner. "If necessary, the mechanic will come within two hours," emphasizes Krstic. This performance guarantee is based on the fact that Rohrer-Marti always keeps a service vehicle in stock for emergencies.
No wonder that there have never been any bottlenecks in the production of V-ZUG AG for which one of the two Hubtex forklifts was responsible. Instead, the versatile industrial trucks unwind their program day after day and transport around 600 tons of material per month.