Vollert will present the new VLEX road-rail robot for the first time live at the InnoTrans 2018 in Berlin (Hall 21/104). In one-man operation, the radio-controlled, all-round vehicle switches from track to road and back again quickly and easily. Despite its compact dimensions, it is suitable for maneuvering loads of up to 300 tons. Its sophisticated vehicle geometry with articulated steering and four individually controlled wheel hub motors make it extremely agile and economical. These ensure a turning radius of only 7.2 m up to 360° on the spot while protecting tires and is low on wear. "As main applications, the industry and transport companies such as street and subway depots have emerged" explains Jürgen Schiemer, Vice President at Vollert. "For public transport companies we offer suitable variants with many different coupling systems and compressed-air supply for releasing the train brakes."
Rental option for temporary applications
Another aspect for many customers is using the road-rail vehicle temporarily when required. For example, SSB in Stuttgart installed the compact VLEX for six months to move trams onto newly erected sidings until final installation of overhead lines. "With its small dimensions and a dead weight of 4.5 tons, the VLEX is easy to transport and can therefore be quickly employed anywhere. That is why we have developed a rental model for such tasks," Jürgen Schiemer explains. Even in periods of high shipments, VLEX supports a limited time, for example, during the harvest of agricultural products or other goods and materials subject to seasonal fluctuations. In the Czech Republic, Glencore Grain used the rental vehicle to transport raw materials in a rapeseed oil mill for one week to reduce peak loads. "Through the rental option, it is possible to test equipment variants that are appropriate for the given operating conditions, inclines or curves," Jürgen Schiemer adds.
Kämmerer Papierwerke rely on VLEXible performance
In permanent use, the advantages lie in the high flexibility of the compact road-rail robot. At Kämmerer Spezialpapiere GmbH in Osnabrück, a VLEX creates the connection between two halls. In doing so, paper rolls (tambours) are protected from the weather in a closed wagon and transported to the dispatch hall. Kämmerer has reactivated existing track systems, but also uses the tarred road surface in front of the halls for truck traffic. The road-rail VLEX vehicle is optimally suited to the existing conditions and takes over the maneuvering task of two trucks in a continuous change operation.
