German startup company QuiMo (Quick Motion) will make its debut at Bauma next month with a highly unusual and innovative electric powered two wheel loader with forward reach.
The machine - aimed at construction, material handling and landscaping markets - offers fork or bucket attachments. It has a 1.6 tonne maximum capacity at a height of 2.8 metres on the forks, or 1.9 metres with the bucket attachment and an overall 500mm forward reach at full capacity. Overall weight is 1,800kg.
The prototype version ready for Bauma
The machine is 2.2 metres long with forks attached, with an overall width of 1.2 metres and two metre overall height. It almost maintains a 1:1 payload to deadweight ratio, compared to conventional electric compact loaders which are typical 0.4:1 to 0.5:1.
The drive system features dynamic balancing control with an auxiliary support wheel. The company says the electric drive system achieves 40 percent lower energy consumption than standard electric loaders through component reduction - including elimination of the cab - which makes for a lighter overall weight.
Founder Jonas with a miniature version of the machine
The compact design enables transport via a car sized trailer. Safety features include centre of gravity monitoring, automated counterweight positioning, and remote control operation with integrated load sensing and assistance functions.
The idea for the machine came about when founder, Jonas Heinzel, was riding a Segway when he was 16, he was inspired by Segway's self-balancing technology. He took his idea to his stepfather, Wolfgang Rebholz, who is an engineer and now managing director at the company.
Heinzel envisioned applying a similar principle to construction equipment, adding a movable counterweight system to maintain stability while handling heavy loads. The two then developed the initial concept into a patented design.
Rebholz said: “I said to Jonas, ‘that’s a great idea’, so we went to an intellectual attorney, and found out the idea was new and original, so we registered the patent, and it went through very quickly.”
Jonas with the prototype
“At the time, I was working as an engineer for an automotive manufacturer, so I was able to provide my stepson with ideas as then he started his own company. Initially it was just the two of us working for the company and then when I retired, I was able to give the project more time.”
Development of the prototype began in January 2024, following the completion of detailed plans and designs. With the project documentation in place, the team successfully secured both sponsors and partners to support the development phase.
Heinzler added: “It’s important for us to have a robot which can lift heavy loads with a low weight and is easily moveable. You don’t need a truck to move the machine, a trailer attached to a car is enough.”
The lift being transported on a standard trailer
“We have designed today’s forklift - our machine is smart but simple. Our sponsors believe in our machine and that there is market for this concept. Bauma will give us the opportunity to show what our machine is capable of.”
Based in Sauldorf-Boll, southern Germany, QuiMo was established in 2022 to develop electric construction equipment. The company operates from two locations - its headquarters and a software development office in Ulm.
Watch this video to see a miniature version of the machine in action:
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