Frequently crossing time zones is a good way to get you checking the calendar app to work out where (and when) the hell you are.
An early visit to Australia, plus this year’s EuroBois in Lyon, Modex in Atlanta, LogiMat in Stuttgart, and the Montreal Wood Convention, all following in short order, means this year the app is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Team Baumann.
The company has made sideloaders for 55 years, and electric versions since the early 1990s. Sideloaders were born out of the needs of the timber trade. Their unique ability to carry long loads securely on their bed make them ideal for the job. Many of the UK’s biggest sideloader users are in the timber sector, including Metsä Wood, BSW Timber, James Jones and Ridgeons Timber.
Despite the long history, and strong market presence, spreading the gospel inside and outside Europe involves a lot of these events. The airports, hotels and convention centres may look alike, but thankfully there are some ways to help you tell when you are not in Kansas (or Georgia) anymore.
Baumann USA has been leading the charge with major investments in new systems, people and infrastructure and the team is doing superb work in developing the Baumann brand in North America. During the supply chain exhibition, Modex, US visitors are generally impressed at the electric machines, even though many are unfamiliar with the sideloader concept. Meanwhile, the irony of Team Baumann racking up the air miles in the pursuit of promoting electric machines is also not lost on us.
The trend towards electric machines is well established in Europe but it is less pronounced in North America. Perhaps this is a reflection of the customer base, which is dominated by metals and steel industries, who are more likely large diesel truck users.
In the past few years, there has been a surge in demand for electric machines elsewhere. The order intake now is in the 80-85% range, 20-15% diesel, a complete reversal from a decade ago. There are other technologies out there, such as the hydrogen fuel cell machine, but for the next five or 10 years, Baumann believes that electric’s the future.
Electrics offer zero emissions, are cheaper to run and maintain, and have a better operator environment. The initial investment is now on a par with engine models, whilst noise and vibration reduction provide almost as much satisfaction as the cost savings.
Atlanta is, of course, home to Coca-Cola, and there’s a large company museum near the convention hall that literally gives you a taste of their success at marketing drinks around the world. Suitably inspired, we head to the bar and ask for a vodka and Coke, only to be greeted by confused looks all round. Evidently, in this part of the US, it’s not a (real) thing.
Imagine that! A concept that is firmly established closer to home is considered a little exotic and edgy on this side of the pond. We do our best to increase its popularity…
Back over in Stuttgart, the idea that everything is bigger in North America is quietly put aside as the logistics mega-show that is LogiMAT houses 1,610 exhibitors, attracting 101,649 visitors across a feetnumbing 67,000m2. Warehouse automation is a huge part of the exhibition, a theme that we also saw at the very popular Boston Dynamics stand in Atlanta, complete with menacing looking, but allegedly harmless, robot dog.
Our German guests are just as likely to be interested in the new Baumann Lego sets as the actual models, but the show is a great chance to catch up with European customers and dealers who are facing challenging economic realities. The UK, France and Germany are all key Baumann markets and each are seeing a slow down after a post- Covid high. The mood remains buoyant at LogiMAT, nonetheless, as new orders are placed and friendships renewed to the loud strains of Europop.
Two weeks later and we are heading to Canada to visit dealers and see the delights of Montreal. Here, only a total solar eclipse can distract the timber convention members from their wood trade chat, but the mood is surprisingly positive.
LT Gibson, the CEO of US LBM, one of the largest building products distributors in the US, with over 400 locations, sums up the optimism by believing the home building sector will soon pick up dramatically when interest rates ‘normalise’.
All the speakers at the Montreal event agree change is in the air, adding that there is a real difficulty in retaining staff in the postpandemic era of remote working.
Coincidentally, we have just visited a new customer, Promise Robotics, that is developing a way to tackle both issues.
Describing itself as a Canadian artificial intelligence company, it is developing a cloud-based industrial production platform for robotic construction and assembly, the aim of which is to use its technology to build homes faster, more sustainably and more economically.
Investors were impressed enough to stump up US$25m, confident of the potential it offers for the construction industry.
Promise Robotics ambitiously estimates that, for every million new homes built using its platform and turn-key production factories, it can help the building industry save US$130bn in costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 560 metric tons and generate 16,000 new categories of jobs.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen KUKA robots and Baumann sideloaders in such close proximity, but the indoor ‘cellular’ production modules mean the electric Baumann is the ideal machine for their long load handling needs.
Operational efficiencies come into sharper focus, of course, when times are tough. Melbourne-based building supplier group, Womersley Mitre 10, have a long enough history to know better than most.
Milling timber began in Frankston, Victoria in 1922. Jack Womersley bought into the mill in the mid-1940s, before going on to become one of the founders of Mitre 10, a chain of 420 retail outlets. The Womersley business is now being run by Jack’s grandsons Stuart, Peter and Scott Womersley.
Managing director Peter is all too familiar with the difficulties that can arise when handling long timber packs. The flagship site in Frankston is prime real estate, with a shopping centre on one side and the newly opened Mornington freeway on the other. And while this location offers many advantages, there is simply no room to grow outwards.
The customer base and goodwill built up over the last century with local community support is not something that Peter, or his brothers would ever want to lose. All agree, then, that the location is too important to consider moving. Increasing storage density without losing accessibility to product and transporting long loads down the narrow access lanes crossing the site is key.
So, they have replaced their diesel-powered Baumann HX40, after decades of faithful service, with a 120v electric ELX50, the first electric sideloader to achieve working battery shift life of over 10 hours, with speeds and performance exceeding its diesel counterpart. Yard manager, Andrew Rolfe, is quick to praise the new Baumann.
“It’s like driving a rocket ship! It’s much easier to drive, and so much quieter and more comfortable.”
Many loads are 5.4m framing timber, or even longer packs of engineered timber beams. The management team knows that the quickest and safest way to handle these types of loads is with a sideloader. This may be more expensive than a conventional forklift, but Peter Womersley is quick to point out the commercial justification. “We know that real estate is one of the most expensive parts of any business, and the Baumann helps us maximise every square metre of space. We also know that the build quality is such that we expect to keep this machine for 20 years, giving us a much longer amortisation period.”
“We don’t put a price on safety,” he adds.
Back in our own time zone, for a few weeks at least, and right on cue, we are celebrating a new Safety Product of the Year Award from the UK Materials Handling Association at their prestigious industry awards gala in Birmingham. The award completes the manufacturer ‘big three’ for Baumann, having previously been recognised in the Innovation and Environmental categories.
A delighted CEO, Klaus Pirpamer, stepped up on stage with the Baumann team to receive the ‘Archie’ award from television and movie actress, Sally Phillips.
The SafeLoad Assistance system works by calculating the stability limit of the truck and using sensors within the chassis that consider the forces that are exerted by the load weight, the position of both the load and the truck, and a number of other factors.
The new system has been in development for several years. During the time spent in development, Baumann has seen load capacities increase and changes in design practices allowing it to develop the new technology. It has been a long road and the future holds much promise, even if we still need to spread the word. There are more great places and people to see. Soon, it will be time to pack.
