35 Years of Refurbishment Center at Intralogistics Specialist STILL

(Hamburg) When a professionally refurbished forklift rolls out of the STILL refurbishment center, it is hardly distinguishable from a new device with the naked eye. And even in stress tests, it is difficult to spot a difference. It is no wonder that the market for second-hand equipment is growing strongly, and the acquisition of used industrial trucks is becoming an attractive alternative for more and more companies. In addition to economic considerations, aspects of availability, but above all sustainability, resource responsibility, and reducing one’s own carbon footprint are increasingly playing a role. Because alongside the major issues of our time, such as alternative energy systems, recycling, and circular development concepts, the refurbishment of vehicles and thus the reuse of components and raw materials is also an important pillar of sustainable and future-proof concepts in logistics.

35 Years of Experience and a Growing Network of Refurbishment Centers

STILL began refurbishing used vehicles according to uniform quality standards and offering them to customers as second-hand market devices as early as the late 1980s. To this end, the company has built and gradually expanded its own network in Europe. In 2008, the location in Stuhr near Bremen became STILL’s first refurbishment center, followed by another in Rokietnica, Poland, in 2014, and in Lainate near Milan in 2017. Just a few days ago, a fourth refurbishment center opened its doors in Çerkezköy, Turkey. In total, up to 8,000 vehicles are technically and visually refurbished each year and returned to the STILL sales organization. Across Europe, customers can choose from around 25,000 refurbished vehicles, available in premium quality and quickly – even online.

A Smart Alternative: Tailored Solutions Thanks to Used Premium Vehicles

The second-hand market for forklifts and warehouse technology vehicles has been growing steadily for years. This is partly due to the increasing supply, primarily driven by the continuously growing leasing market segment. But demand is also noticeably rising. From the customer’s perspective, this is not surprising, says Frank Müller, Senior Vice President STILL Brand Management: “From both an economic and ecological perspective, acquiring used and refurbished devices makes sense for more and more of our customers. It doesn’t always have to be a ‘new’ one,” he explains. “STILL is known for offering customers individually tailored solutions. And high-quality refurbished vehicles definitely belong to that.” With years of experience, mature processes, and proactively planned refurbishment capacities across Europe, STILL is also a pace-setter in intralogistics in this area and a reliable, innovative partner for its customers.

The motivations of STILL customers to opt for a used device can be of various natures. A large target group consists of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as companies with moderate transport tasks and manageable operating times for the forklifts – but at the same time with high demands for quality and service. They benefit from purchasing a refurbished STILL vehicle not only from guaranteed manufacturer quality but also from the comprehensive and qualified service of STILL – all at an attractive price and with immediate availability.

But STILL customers with large fleets and intensive operations are also increasingly relying on used devices within mixed fleets. Especially transport tasks that do not require 24/7 operation, such as loading and unloading trucks, can be very well handled by used vehicles. In addition to financial aspects, ecological reasons play a significant role here: promoting long value creation cycles, conserving precious resources, and the demonstrable reduction of one’s own carbon footprint are now high on the agenda of many companies, if not even in their own “specifications.” “Mixed fleets of new and refurbished premium vehicles are a highly attractive option for many of our customers to smartly combine efficiency and responsibility – entirely without compromises on either side,” explains Frank Müller.

Quality and Service: Indispensable Unique Selling Propositions in the Used Market

Indispensable prerequisites for successful business with used devices are high quality of the refurbished vehicles and comprehensive service at the level of new devices. To ensure premium quality as well as high comparability and transparency, STILL introduced a Europe-wide uniform classification for its used devices back in 2003. It classifies the vehicles according to the criteria of technology, warranty, appearance, age, and battery condition into the categories Bronze, Silver, and Gold and defines the corresponding refurbishment according to standardized processes. “For many of our second-hand market interested parties, the Silver category is the ideal balance between high quality standards and noticeable financial savings,” explains Frank Müller regarding the categorization. A vehicle in this classification is technically fully inspected and refurbished with STILL original parts, cleaned, visually improved, and freshly painted.

Professional Battery Refurbishment

Thanks to professional battery refurbishment, STILL guarantees a minimum battery residual capacity of 70 percent for electric vehicles in the Silver category, and even 100 percent in the Gold category. And also in terms of service, customers in the used segment can rely on the usual STILL quality. The entire spectrum of the STILL service promise applies to used vehicles – from the availability of spare parts to preventive maintenance cycles for maximum flexibility and availability.

Photo: © STILL