Palfinger’s emission-free world premiere at APEX

The Palfinger P 250 BK eDRIVE – the company’s first emission-free access platform – is celebrating its world premiere at this year’s APEX and is paving the way to an emission-free future with further modular offerings of smart and emission-free access platforms.

With 40,000 kilometres on the road, hundreds of work cycles and myriad tests and optimisations, the journey from prototype to series production is a demanding process, especially when using the latest technologies. Well on the way to zero emissions, the world market leader in crane and lifting solutions is electrifying its access platform portfolio and celebrates a world premiere at APEX 2023 in Maastricht. As Palfinger’s first emission-free access platform, the P 250 BK eDRIVE is being launched in series on the Iveco eDaily all-electric truck. Displayed as a joint prototype at the IAA and Bauma trade fairs in 2022, the eDRIVE access platform is now an efficient and reliable series product.

The construction site of the future requires solutions that are connected, intelligent and flexible. With its Vision & Strategy 2030, Palfinger has set itself the goal of creating integrated complete solutions that are connected and smart to handle tomorrow’s challenges. Electrification plays an important role here, as emission-free and low-noise operation will soon be the norm. Access platforms are suitable for meeting these requirements. They enable safe and quick operation in narrow streets in the centre of cities as well as on uneven terrain. At APEX 2023, Palfinger presents a range of the latest applications that enable emission-free, low-noise operation thanks to the benefits of electrification. The P 250 BK eDRIVE emission-free access platform leads the way.

Michael Gruböck, managing director of Access Platforms Palfinger EMEA, says,  “Emission-free, quiet and safe. Together with our strong partner Iveco, we have created a solution with the P 250 BK eDRIVE mounted on the emission-free Iveco eDaily chassis that meets our goals in every respect. Our shared expertise has been successfully utilised to optimise proven performance with the help of a new technology. The result on display at APEX will sustainably change the industry.”

In urban areas, the sustainable and low-noise access platform impresses with its working height of almost 25m. The popular model in the Light NX class is both space-saving and robust and is equipped with three different support configurations. The all-electric chassis is especially dynamic thanks to the high torque and efficient braking of the motor. During operation, it is in no way inferior to a fossil fuel-powered access platform truck in terms of efficiency and performance. Operators do not need to change the way they work. The P 220 BK eDRIVE emission-free access platform will also soon be available to offer a working height below 25m.

In addition to the world premiere of P 250 BK, other applications on display also enable emission-free and low-noise operation. The mobile and retrofittable eDRIVE battery packs will be exhibited together with a P 170 TXE access platform. They demonstrate the flexibility of electrification by enabling quick and easy conversion to emission-free operation. Thanks to battery operation, these machines can even operate at the same speed as diesel versions in places without a power supply. The jumbo hybrid version of the high-performance P 640 access platform and the agile P 130 mounted on a 4×4 Ford Ranger will also be on display.

When it comes to access platforms, the technology company is proving that Palfinger is turning words into action by expanding its existing access platform plant in Löbau (Germany) to around 32,000sqm. Starting this year, in addition to light and premium classes, large platforms will be assembled at the plant in Görlitz, Saxony. The location will be one of the hubs for the future-driven development of mounted and series equipment. The three European distribution centres in Lengau (Austria), Bremen (Germany) and Toulouse (France) also ensure that spare parts are available in the shortest possible time. The electrification and digitalisation of access platforms form the basis for Palfinger to develop another future-oriented flagship product on the way to new horizons, in addition to the loader crane.