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It's hard to imagine the mountain bike scene without Kärcher. The world's leading supplier of efficient and resource-saving cleaning systems has products in its range that have been specially developed for bike cleaning and make it child's play. Kärcher Switzerland supports the sport of mountain biking, for example, as an Official Cleaning Partner for the XCO/XCC and DHI World Cup, as well as for the Swiss racing series SES - Swiss Enduro Series and CIC OnSwiss Bike Cup. The latter two will each be provided with three wash boxes including washing technology for cleaning mountain bikes for the entire season. In these "Bike Cleaning Stations", the mountain bikes can be cleaned after use in an ecologically sustainable, ergonomic and material-friendly manner. Professional high-pressure cleaners are used, with a special nozzle adapted to bike cleaning, which reduces the water pressure to 27 bar and thus allows cleaning even in the most sensitive areas, such as bearings and other moving parts.
However, some important questions quickly arose regarding the logistics. We have events at ten different locations with fixed timings:
And so our customer center received a call asking whether it would be possible for "SpediFux®" to transport three mountain bike wash boxes measuring 253 x 102 x 189 cm plus several high-pressure cleaners including accessories from one event to another according to schedule?
What initially sounded like a simple standard request turned out to be a major challenge for everyone involved. It is not possible to load these wash boxes onto the truck or unload them from the truck using a conventional lifting platform, as at 253 cm they are far too long for a standard lifting platform and would tip over the lifting platform. As an alternative, we considered loading them by crane, but this would have been too expensive and it would not have been possible to extend the side supports for the crane vehicle in many places.
Another idea would have been to transport the boxes on a low-floor trailer. However, as a maximum of two boxes would have fitted into such a trailer, it would have been necessary to have two vehicles on the road at all times. Apart from the fact that such trailers are not immediately available, this approach would also have exceeded the budget and would not have supported our Co2 project.
We sought to talk to our practitioners in the team, i.e. our drivers, who are on the road every day and know exactly how to master challenging situations. It was immediately clear that the lifting platform had to be artificially extended. But how should this be done? At first we thought about metal sheets and roof battens, but it quickly became clear that this would not be a practical solution. In addition, the boxes must not be lifted from below with a pallet truck, as this is where the sensitive stainless steel collection tray is located, which would be damaged during lifting.
An aluminum construction was developed with another external specialist. Using this construction, it is now possible to load the boxes easily and safely onto the truck using the lifting platform and also from the truck onto the ground again.
The first hurdle was cleared and now it was time to plan the individual rides. The request is for a total of ten events, which will take place throughout Switzerland as part of the SES - Swiss Enduro Series and the CIC On Swiss Bike Cups. Of course, these events do not take place in urban areas, where it is common for large trucks to be on the road, but the destinations are Crans Montana, Savognin, Airolo and Lötschental, for example. It is therefore important that we use a vehicle that is not too large and does not contravene the legal requirements, the maximum permissible tonne limit, even on the mountain passes. It is also absolutely crucial for smooth handling that we always have the same chauffeur on duty wherever possible.
Each pick-up and delivery is planned individually from event to event according to a precisely defined schedule in direct coordination with our "SpediFux®" transportation planning system. The aim is, of course, to drive as few empty kilometers as possible and always place the wash boxes in the right place at the right time.
Our scheduling department is always in direct contact with the person responsible for the event in question.
After half of all events, the boxes, including the high-pressure cleaner and accessories, are sent to the "SpediFux®" warehouse. There, the equipment and the pits are thoroughly cleaned, checked for damage, repaired if necessary and stored for a few weeks before they go on tour again in the fall for the second part of the two racing series.
Thanks to the optimally positioned securing eyelets, the wash boxes can be perfectly lashed down to secure the load. This ensures damage-free transportation.
At the end of the second half of the season, all the material is returned to the "SpediFux®" warehouse and the cleaning and repair process starts again. The boxes and high-pressure cleaning equipment are now stored clean and dry over the winter in a floor storage area in the high-bay warehouse until the next season in spring.
The request was therefore not a one-off project; "SpediFux®" can enter into a multi-year collaboration with Kärcher. Kärcher can count on a reliable and sustainable partner.
As probably the most advanced digital transport platform in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, we are very pleased to be able to prove that a digital platform makes our customers' daily workflows considerably easier, but does not replace personal and intensive customer care.
The entire "SpediFux®" team is very proud that Kärcher has placed its trust in us and that we have already been able to prove ourselves during the first transports.
And, according to Tanja Mosberger, who is responsible for the event and trade fair organization at Kärcher, and Marcel Sutter, Head of Marketing Kärcher Switzerland, to their complete satisfaction!
SpediFux is the smart digital transport company for Switzerland & Liechtenstein. Freight forwarding, whether it's boxes, general cargo, or pallets. Easy to use, reliable processing, guaranteed price.
