ÖFA-Akkumulatoren GmbH with its 238 employees is responsible for the production and Austrian distribution of VARTA batteries. At Liesing in Vienna 1.4 million car batteries are produced annually; distribution and service are conducted through 6 branches across Austria.
Trucks with special bodies supply wholesalers, workshops and the car accessory trade. Per vehicle approx. 250 batteries are transported on pallets or on special racks. In addition to delivery, VARTA also takes care of the complete disposal operation. Used batteries are picked up direct from the customer and taken in plastic containers to BMG-Metall in Arnoldstein for recycling.

Altogether 12 trucks are deployed for delivery and disposal. The two latest vehicles, two 15-tonne MERCEDES trucks, are each fitted with a PALGATE PBS 1500 tailift.

For Gottfried Eder, the manager of the Salzburg and Innsbruck branches, and who himself comes from Salzburg, it was a natural step to introduce a local product, and especially a product bearing the reputation of PALFINGER Company. “After a year of operating practice with PALGATE the correctness of the decision has been confirmed. No complaints and extremely smooth-running handling procedures are the résumé. The drivers are impressed by the performance and easy operation of the new tail-lift. With the aid of PALGATE all pallets, containers and rack units can be handled without any difficulty. Speedy delivery and disposal of our products is optimally guaranteed – to the great satisfaction of our customers. And that’s what counts!”