When a new building was opened at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (UAS), STILL GmbH, a leading supplier of customized intralogistics solutions worldwide, handed over under a sponsorship arrangement an RX 20-15 triple mast counterbalance truck with a work cage for practical training and research. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Hörstmeier of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics was delighted to accept the truck in the new premises of the Laboratory for Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (FML).

Bielefeld UAS moved into its new main building on the Bielefeld Campus right on time for the Winter Semester 2015/2016. The Laboratory for Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (FML) now has a new experimental hall more than nine metres high and belonging to the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics available for practical training and research. The R 20-15 truck already donated by STILL GmbH in 1995 was not designed for these heights, so STILL has now sponsored a Type RX 20-15 counterbalance truck of the latest generation with a triple mast and work cage. Laboratory Director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Hörstmeier explained that “Our training of mechanical engineering students in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics at Bielefeld UAS is intended to be very practically oriented. Contacts with networks and companies have supported this aim for decades. I am delighted that with the RX 20 we can now also show the students the latest technology here on site, and can test it.”

However, the many years of cooperation with Bielefeld UAS also includes visits to STILL’s headquarters in Hamburg, truck driver licence training sessions for students so they can experience the topic of “Safety in Logistics”, guest speaker lectures at Bielefeld UAS by STILL’s experts, lectures by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Hörstmeier at STILL, visits by groups of students to specialist trade fairs and the provision of up-to-date documents and demonstrations for engineer training. Some students have also carried out projects or degree theses at STILL on current real topics. Michael Quest, Manager of STILL’s branches in Bielefeld and Hanover, emphasises that “For example STILL works with its automation solutions on extremely forward-looking topics, therefore the cooperation not only encourages practical training and research but also gives students access to the latest technologies and product developments.”

Michael Quest, Manager of STILL’s branches in Bielefeld and Hanover (r.) hands over the new counterbalance truck RX 20-15 to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Hörstmeier (l.) from the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics of the Bielefeld UAS.

The Bielefeld UAS could account itself lucky about the new STILL forklift truck. It is sponsored by the STILL branch in Bielefeld. The battery was put at disposal by the Geraer Batterie Dienst GmbH. F.l.tr. Dietmar Bock, Managing Director Geraer Batterie Dienst GmbH, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Hörstmeier, Head of Laboratory FML/FPL at the Bielefeld UAS, Michael Quest, Manager of STILL’s branches in Bielefeld and Hanover.

New truck in new premises. The Bielefeld AUS is glad to secure the practical training and research with the new STILL RX 20-15, even in the new building. F.l.t.r. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Hörstmeier, Head of Laboratory FML/FPL at the Bielefeld UAS, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lothar Budde, Dean FB3 at the Bielefeld UAS, Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk, President of the Bielefeld UAS, Michael Quest, Manager of STILL’s branches in Bielefeld and Hanover.