Burtenbach, 30.03.2009 – There are only a few sectors that have been hit by the current economic crisis as hard as the commercial vehicle industry. The number of newly registered commercial vehicles in Europe fell by appro-
ximately one third at the beginning of 2009.

In spite of this sales crisis, Kögel Fahrzeugwerke GmbH has continued proceeding with the expansion it began last year. The manufacturer of trailers and semi-trailers has invested more than four million Euros since last summer in the expansion and modernization of its main factory in Burtenbach (County of Günzburg).

The plant area was enlarged by almost 70.000 square meters to 315.000 square meters. At the same time, the dip painting plant was modernized and changed over to a new process, which makes solvent- and zinc phos-
phate-free nanocoating possible. Three VOLK Electric Tow Tractors were also a part of the investment program. The vehicles were designed in cooperation with the to

Kögel is the third-largest manufacturer of trailers and semi trailers in Ger-
many – With 1.350 employees, the company achieves an annual turn-
over of 450 million Euros

To guarantee consistent high quality, all trailers are put through an exten-
sive testing and inspection program – Up to 100 trailers go through the test hall each day

ing hall, the trailers pass through several stations. At the first station, stickers are affixed with warning and safety information.

Directly after this comes the roller test stand as station number two. To subject the operating and emergency brakes of the trailer to an electronic test program, the trailers are connected to a fixed compressed air unit. Before the trailers leave the testing hall for the outside parking area to await further transport, an extensive final inspection takes place as the last step.

During the trip from the production hall through the test stands to the parking area, the trailers are pulled by VOLK Electric Tow Tractors. The semi-trailers are placed on a two-axle bogie car with a fifth wheel coupling. This car has a conventional truck tongue with which it can be pulled like a normal trailer. The trailer coupling of the VOLK vehicles can be adjusted in height hydraulically and has a trapezoid-shaped threading aid. This can be lowered to the floor for taking up the tongue. In addition,

To make an optimal view of the trailer coupling possible during the coupling operation, the vehicles are designed as rear-seat tractors. While this type of construction is relatively common with diesel tow tractors, it is rather unusual for electric tow tractors. The reason is that with
a rear-seat design, the heavy, bulky traction battery can-
not be placed – as it normally would be – in the space between the from and rear axles. Positioning on the front axle would be the inevitable consequence, resulting in an unfavorable center of gravity and a limited view to-
wards the front. In the special vehicles for Kögel, the dri-
ver’s cab was therefore “cut in half“ so that the battery with a capacity of 80 V / 465 Ah could be positioned in the space between the axles next to the driver’s cab.

This was possible in this case because the requirement profile fit two important prerequisites: First, the vehicles are designed for one-man operation, so that a passen-
ger seat is not necessary. And second, the vehicles
must be constructed significantly wider than conventio-
nal electric tow tractors, since the use at the brake test

The trailers are pulled by VOLK Electric Tow Tractors – These vehicles were customized constructions, which were rigorously optimized for use at the test stands