Baumann has much to celebrate

Q What is your company’s USP?

A Baumann is a world-class manufacturer of sideloaders from three to 50 tonnes capacity - with a reputation for consistent innovation, and the highest level of design and productivity. Baumann has made sideloaders for 52 years, and electric versions since the early 1990s. The machine was born out of the needs of the timber trade. Their unique ability to carry long loads securely on their bed made them ideal for the job and have since proved vital for long load operations.

Q Tell us about your recent innovations?

A We’ve launched a new safety system for our diesel and electric ranges, SafeLoad Assistance. The system works by calculating the stability limit of the truck and using sensors within the chassis that consider the forces that are exerted by the load weight, the position of both the load and the truck, and a number of other factors.

The new system has been in development for several years and was awarded the 2024 Award for Safety, from the UK Materials Handling Association awards. The award completes the manufacturer ‘big three’ for Baumann, having previously been recognised in the Innovation and Environmental categories.

Creativity sparks innovation, and our electric Baumann sideloader has also been converted to a side loading waste management truck in Australia. Great for small cities, resort towns, and more.

Q What challenges do your customers face and how are helping them respond?

A Safety is one of the defining advantages of sideloaders over traditional counterbalance forklifts. Our innovative designs offer enhanced safety and stability on the job. When loads are carried widthways across forks, stability is often compromised. Wide loads can limit an operator’s visibility and may even prompt them to lift the load to gain a clearer view. Unfortunately, this creates a tipping hazard, even with relatively light loads.

Sideloaders, however, are designed to tackle stability issues by distributing weight with precision. Key factors—like load weight, mast height, and movement—are carefully considered to maintain balance and control.

To counteract lifting forces and maintain stability, Baumann sideloaders distribute weight strategically. In our electric sideloaders, the battery serves as part of this counterbalance, located along the operator’s side. But Baumann takes it further: our sideloaders are engineered for an ideal weight distribution, both loaded and unloaded, without adding excess weight that can hinder performance.

For instance, the new ELX model is up to 2.5 tonnes lighter than conventional machines. This weight efficiency enhances safety by lowering the center of gravity while keeping the chassis small and agile. Components such as the new steering axle and rigid frame provide the stability needed to tackle various loads with precision and confidence. Unlike forklifts that drive up to loads, sideloaders use an outreach mechanism, extending the mast towards the load. Baumann’s innovation here is groundbreaking. Instead of the traditional hydraulic cylinder outreach, which can create sudden oscillations due to friction, Baumann introduced the patented Archimedes screw, or worm gear outreach system. This system eliminates unwanted lateral movements, ensuring smoother and safer operation.

The new worm gear system, part of our refi ned Variable Reach System (VRS), offers precision, durability, and low maintenance—factors that reduce stress on the chassis and improve control and safety for operators.

Q What industry sectors do you target?

A Many of the UK’s biggest sideloader users are in the timber sector, including Metsä Wood, BSW Timber and Ridgeons Timber. Others are in steel, such as Marcegaglia and Barret Steel. Baumann’s award-winning series of sideloaders are specifi cally designed for carrying long loads and are particularly popular in timber and steel applications, however we have recently seen growth in pre-cast concrete and both steel and plastic pipe businesses.

Q What are you doing to meet sustainability objectives? / What trends have you seen in your sector this year?

A We are delivering record numbers of electric machines as we help businesses transition from diesel fleets. In order to obtain a suitable performance from electrics, most manufacturers, of both sideloaders and conventional forklifts, increased the amperage of the battery together with the battery dimension. In this way the power of the battery is bigger and capable of providing greater longevity.

However, the weight of the battery itself also increases, causing a reduction in battery effi ciency and a reduction of the performance of the truck.

Baumann always tried to give the priority to the performance of the truck. Whilst attempting to achieve the important requirement of additional battery longevity, we nevertheless considered the higher performance in terms of traveling speed, lifting speed, mast outreach speed, and other parameters that would make the machine comparable to a diesel truck of the same capacity.

It is a delicate balancing act between providing the right amount performance but also having the capability of working a lot of hours and the result should be to reach the same level of the diesel truck.

To reach the target, we implemented 120-volt technology, using it for the first time on the sideloader.

The 120-volt technology, combined with the optimization of many other parts of the truck, like the outreach system, hydraulic pump, electric drive motors and so on, enables the performance that we are looking for - that balance of productivity and longevity.

Q What does your company have planned for 2025?

A We are extending the capabilities of our SafeLoad Assistance system and expanding our range of electric vehicles, particularly at higher capacities.

Q What is the latest news from your company?

A Construction work has been completed on Baumann’s latest expansion at the company’s HQ in Cavaion Veronese, Italy. The expansion has modernised and tied together production halls developed over five decades.

The latest project is the largest ever undertaken in the history of the business, as it prepares for the next stage in its development and take advantage of the growing popularity of its high capacity and electric sideloaders.

The work included the excavation of 1,200 lorry loads of earth, removing and buttressing much of a steep escarpment and adding over 3,000m2 of automated storage, around half of which is underground.

Specialist storage for long products was implemented, together with bespoke software and stock monitoring packages. Over 700 locally-sources plants have added green space to the fi nished area, whilst decades-old olive trees have been carefully relocated.

A new testing area, including rolling road and energy supply upgrade and sandblasting area have also been added. An additional solar array and steel cutting machines are also planned.

BAUMANN SIDELOADERS

Aldwarke Business Park, 49 Waddington Way, Rotherham, S65 3SH

Tel: 01709 242506

Web: www.baumann-sideloaders.com