Eighty Still electric forklifts with lifting capacities of 2 and 3.5 tons are in operation at the ten venues of the European Football Championship. By the time the tournament finally kicks off, the forklift manufacturer has already invested weeks in preparations for the major event, which is expected to draw 2.7 million visitors.
Events of this kind are definitely a logistical challenge. The organizer is responsible for all the stadium equipment for the duration of the tournament. From lighting technology and stage structures to catering – enormous amounts of material have to be delivered and set up. VPT GmbH, which is responsible for the equipment at all ten European Championship stadiums, relies on the support of Still.
The vehicles come from a rental fleet of approximately 8,000 units operating in Germany. According to VPT, the company responsible for event technology, around 20,000 kg of steel scaffolding is delivered to each stadium – across all locations, this equates to roughly 40 truck deliveries that need to be unloaded and transported to the arenas.
“Our forklifts really have to handle a lot,” says Key Account Manager Frederik Daniel. In addition to the heavy loads, another requirement is the lifting height, which needs to be at least four and often over five meters, the expert explains. At the same time, it's not just “big” and “powerful” that's needed in a football stadium, but also small and maneuverable equipment. “For some jobs, the forklifts also operate in the catacombs or underground parking garages – where the overall height can't exceed two meters,” Daniel explains. “But we have the right equipment for that, too.”
From the last Bundesliga match to the first European Championship game, the tradespeople only had about four weeks to set up. Not much time for an event of this scale. "Availability and fast deliveries are important to every customer, but in the event sector, the time factor is absolutely crucial, as the deadlines are fixed and cannot be changed," says Daniel.
