Our History: Electric trucks

Electrical energy is one of the decisive driving forces of industrial history - and is now, at the beginning of the 21st century, experiencing a new peak phase. Forerunners and pioneers such as Werner von Siemens and also Hans Still, have their share in this, even if they were not the direct inventors. After all, the foundation stone for the electric motor was laid back in 1819, when the Danish physicist and philosopher Hans Christian Orsted discovered electromagnetism. A number of scientists continued research on this basis until 1838 when the physicist and engineer Hermann Jacobi in St. Petersburg used an electric motor in a boat for the first time.

Company founder Hans Still

Hamburg's electrifying visionary

A look at the mastermind and inventor Hans Still shows which values and strategies have become key factors of industrialisation since 1920: He profitably combined the two factors "electrification" and "mobility". The company founder recognised the increasing demand for mobile electricity supply, and with the "Matador Light Station" he met the spirit of the time. The compact and user-friendly generator brought energy to where it was needed - both within Germany and internationally.

EK 2000: The first STILL electric transporter

Future with tradition

The combination of electrical engineering know-how and a clear view of the current needs of the market paved the way for the first successful products of the post-war period. Against the background of the omnipresent lack of fuel in the post-war years, a design team consisting of two employees started developing electric transporters in July 1945. In 1946, Hans Still presented the EK 2000 electric cart, an electrically powered transport vehicle with a load capacity of 2 tons. Robust, manoeuvrable and independent of expensive fossil fuels, this vehicle marked the beginning of STILL's course towards becoming a manufacturer of industrial trucks.

In the port of Hamburg, the agile e-cart became an indispensable helper. The nimble vehicle pulled up to ten trailers through the port with its countless storage sheds. From this point, it was only a small step to the next successful product: a three-wheeled tractor, which quickly established itself as "Muli Mobil" in the industrial plants and warehouses of the young German Federal Republic.

Electrifying evolution

From the three-wheeled tractor to the first electric forklift

Until the mid-fifties, forklift trucks were virtually unknown in Europe - at least those manufactured domestically. The European forklift market received its first impulses in 1946, when the American occupying forces sold forklift trucks from army stock to German companies. STILL quickly recognised the need for transport equipment that could not only tow but also lift. In 1949, the EGS 1000, the first forklift truck by STILL, was introduced to the market. The lateral battery change, first fitted as standard in the STILL R 9 in the mid-sixties, is still considered industry standard today. In 1977, STILL bundled many of the innovations achieved up to then in the R 50 electric truck series, which advanced to become the "VW Golf" of electric trucks - and the best-selling three-wheel truck in this class.

Design studies

Visions of the intralogistic future

The fact that STILL is shaping a future history of the company with their technological developments is particularly emphasised by two design studies: the RXX and the cubeXX. The RXX concept electric truck introduced in 1998 combines futuristic design with numerous technological refinements. For example, the height-adjustable cab optimises safety, as does the video camera installed at the rear. A variably extendable rear weight, which automatically adapts to the load picked up in each case, optimises the load capacity.

The guiding principle "6 in 1" inspired the cubeXX concept vehicle presented in 2011. The cubeXX combines the vehicle types counterbalance truck, low lift and high lift pallet truck, horizontal order picker as well as double stacker truck in a single vehicle. Network-controlled, the cubeXX glides autonomously through logistics hubs and production halls. This visionary idea is the expression of a strategy that consistently thinks ahead of everyday working life and the value chains of the future on the basis of scenarios and forecasts in order to develop flexible equipment and services. To put it another way: "Learning from the future for the future."

Emission-free power

The RX 50 in holy mission

In 2011, STILL presented the new RX 50 Eelectric truck, the most compact electrically driven three-wheel counterbalance truck with rear wheel drive in its class. Among other things, design elements of the bodywork were adopted from the RXX design study. Numerous ergonomic improvements underline the growing importance of health-friendly workplaces. Features such as greater legroom and an innovative protective roof that ensures optimum visibility combine functionality and comfort. This was also confirmed by receiving the coveted IF Product Award. Features such as these even opened the doors of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City to the RX 50 as the cathedral maintenance department there specifically relies on this model by STILL for their holy halls. For interiors full of irreplaceable works of art with sensitive floors, the smart counterbalance truck with zero-emission drive is the first choice.

STILL's family of electric forklift trucks

Unique efficiency without emissions

More performance, more dynamics and more availability. In January 2018, STILL  responded to these customer demands with a compact and agile new addition to its family of electric forklift trucks: the newly designed RX 20. It particularly shows its strengths where zero emissions, narrow aisle widths and tough two or three shift operations characterise the working environment - such as in beverage and building material markets, in trade and logistics, in the food industry or in the production supply of the mechanical engineering and automotive industries.

STILL RX 60

Zero-emission power for green logistics

In 2019, STILL opened a new chapter in its history of electrically powered models and relaunched the RX 60-25/35 series. High acceleration, a travel speed of 21 km/h and a once again improved lift speed make it "the accelerator". The new drive concept with active cooling and shortened paths for power transmission ensures short reaction times with maximum pulling power right from the start. It is the first electric forklift truck to pass comparable diesel forklifts in independent tests in terms of productivity - thus optimally supporting the green logistics strategies of 21st century customers.

The electrical success formula

Efficiency + purity = fit for the future

In some industries, absolute purity is the trump card - for example where food is concerned. The German purity law, which is valued all over the world, applies not only to the ingredients of beer, but also to the intralogistical aspects. Nobody is more familiar with this than the beer experts at Krombacher. With an annual production of over 5.5 million hectolitres of beer, the private brewery is one of the largest of its kind. Sustainability and minimised CO₂emissions play a central role, and only by using powerful electric forklift trucks is it possible to achieve a particle-free production environment while maintaining maximum handling performance. For this the STILL RX 60-50/600 was adapted to the special requirements of the beverage industry. Its reliability and excellent operational availability have convinced Günter Hombach, head of the finished goods warehouse and loading at Krombacher, all along the line: "Our trucks must function at all times. We cannot afford a breakdown. That is why we attach great importance to reliability and personal service. We have been working successfully with STILL for years and are completely satisfied with the safety and service of STILL electric forklift trucks."

Hard work made easy

Pure power for dust-free surfaces

Clean air is also a top priority for packaging: for example at Lünewell, the specialist for corrugated cardboard and paper packaging. 150 million square metres of corrugated cardboard are produced and handled there each year. But everyone knows that paper is very heavy - especially in the form of rolls weighing up to 3.8 tons. Therefore, powerful RX 60 forklifts handle the unloading of the trucks and the transport to the storage warehouse. Up to three rolls of paper with a total height of 7.5 metres are stacked on top of each other compactly and completely free of soot. The 30 electric industrial trucks by STILL are in constant use at Lünewell. Andreas Isermann, head of maintenance, is full of praise: "The new RX 60 has impressed us very much with its strong performance. The driving behaviour is also really great. In addition, the truck has been absolutely reliable and free of failures since it was put into operation".