tfg_320s_s_0061Jungheinrich has announced the introduction of a range of ultra-high performance counterbalance forklift trucks.

The new 3-Series is powered by a Volkswagen engine and features the same hydrostatic drive technology as Jungheinrich’s top-selling 4-Series counterbalanced truck collection. The 3-Series offers class-leading fuel efficiency, productivity, safety and reliability at a price that ensures that lifetime costs – an essential consideration for any forklift specifier – are remarkably low.

In simple terms, hydrostatic drives are self-contained hydraulic pump and motor systems providing smooth and controllable acceleration as well as braking. They simply consist of hydraulic motors fed by a hydrostatic drive pump. Hydraulic oil flows through hoses connecting the hydrostatic components to produce a continuously smooth and wear free power transfer to the drive wheels, contrasting its gear based transmission counterpart.

dfg_320s_s_0043Unlike other forklift trucks with hydrostatic drive currently on the market, the Jungheinrich 3-Series’s hydrostatic drive components have been specifically designed for forklift use, which means they offer optimum performance over the life of the truck.

The hydrostatic drive technology at the heart of the new Jungheinrich 3-Series range minimises fuel consumption throughout even the most demanding shift. In fact, test cycles have shown that over the course of 2000 hours of typical operation, a Jungheinrich 3-Series truck will save some £2000 in fuel costs in comparison with a similar capacity counterbalance truck that uses conventional ‘torque converter’ technology. For sites where a large fleet is in operation, the savings can be extremely significant.

The new 3-Series is ideal for applications where a lot of ‘shuttling’ work is involved – such as lorry loading and unloading within and around a busy warehouse or factory environment. Furthermore, thanks to its hydrostatic drive, acceleration is fast and direct while changes in direction are slick and smooth which ensures that the 3-Series performs exceptionally well at applications where quick and frequent changes of direction are required.

Handling performance is further enhanced thanks to the 3-Series’s unique working programme settings feature. The operator chooses the mode of operation that best suits the type of work he or she is doing. For example, in applications where safety or economy of use are of primary importance, the 3-Series can be set in Mode One, which restricts travels speeds, while other options can be selected for optimum performance inside or outside a warehouse or where the truck is shuttling. At the push of a button the truck can be tailored to the user’s precise needs.

dfg_320s_s_0091The working programme feature brings a number of advantages including safer load handling, reduced tyre wear and reduced truck speed without compromising lift, tilt or auxiliary speeds which, in turn, mean less truck damage, fewer accidents and reduced running costs, increased productivity and greater environmental benefits.

Of course, within any materials handling application, truck downtime has to be minimised and trucks in the 3-Series have been designed to be low maintenance and easy to service. Hydrostatic drive technology – which virtually eliminates metal to metal contact and mechanically wearing components – helps keep maintenance simple and quick and in turn leads to low whole-life cycle costs.

As you would expect from any Jungheinrich product, the well-being of the truck operator was a key consideration throughout the development of the new range. As a result, the new 3-Series provide a high degree of operator safety. For example, the Jungheinrich 3- Series has been designed with the counterweight virtually underneath the operator’s seating position. By lowering the counterweight and positioning it further forward, Jungheinrich’s engineers have effectively changed the truck’s centre of gravity. In doing so they have made the trucks inherently stable – without the need for additional electronic stability systems – which as many truck users have found to their cost, need to be serviced regularly.

The impressive stability of the VFG 316s-320s is further enhanced by the truck’s high mounted steer axle.

In addition, three operator assistance systems ensure operator safety: for example, the truck’s “Access Control” system allows the truck to be operated only once certain sequential safety mechanisms such as the driver’s seat switch and the safety belt have been activated.

Other safety features include excellent operator forward visibility, which means that during pallet pick-up and put-away the operator has a virtually unobstructed view. Visibility to the rear has also considerably improved due to the low top edge of the counterweight.

When it comes to the comfort of the operator, Jungheinrich has designed-in a number of ergonomic benefits including a large and comfortable cab with an unobstructed glass roof to offer excellent all-round visibility; a height and tilt adjustable steering column and a push button starter motor and parking brake.

The operator also benefits from the 3-Series’s low vibration and noise emissions. Jungheinrich’s new 3-Series is far quieter in operation than a conventional torque-converter truck. At the drivers’ ear the sound level is on average a dramatic 3dB(A) quieter than other trucks of a similar capacity.

Trucks in Jungheinrich’s new 3-Series are capable of lifting loads weighing up to 1600-2000 kg and is available in both LPG (TFG) and diesel (DFG) versions.

Jungheinrich UK Ltd
Craig Johnson
Tel: 01908 363100
Email: craigj@jungheinrich.co.uk

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