DHL acquires 25 electric swap body movers from TII Kamag
TII Kamag, a German manufacturer of special vehicles based in Ulm, is delivering 25 electric swap body movers to DHL. The electric vehicles are to be used in yard logistics at various DHL parcel centers across Germany. The vehicles can quickly and precisely maneuver standardised swap body containers from conventional trucks.
Electric swap-body handlers by TII Kamag at DHL
Image: TII Kamag
Swap bodies have long been a key element of DHL’s parcel logistics. Their greatest advantage is that they make it possible to separate the loading unit and transport vehicle. This makes transhipment between parcel centres, trucks and delivery locations more flexible, helping to meet the tight time windows in the parcel business. For example, a truck driver can drop off their swap body cargo container onto a platform with four supports at the parcel centre, pick up another container for a new load, and continue driving immediately. At the same time, the truck’s initial cargo container can be transported across the site between gates, ramps and staging areas using one of these electric special swap body movers.
DHL is now electrifying all of its yard logistics processes. For its parcel service, the company has procured 25 electric swap body movers from automotive manufacturer TII Kamag in the German city of Ulm. These vehicles come from the Kamag ePrecisionMover (ePM) model, designed to ensure smooth transhipment operations.
With short lifting and lowering times as well as agile manoeuvring, the Kamag ePrecisionMover supports a significant reduction in downtime and waiting periods in the yard. According to the company, this is expected to directly improve overall system efficiency and adherence to tight time windows in hub operations.
“The demands placed on parcel networks continue to grow, both in terms of handling performance and sustainability. With the KAMAG ePM, we offer a solution that combines both dimensions and integrates seamlessly into existing and scalable logistics processes,” says Godehard Eidenhammer, Sales Manager for Yard Logistics at TII Kamag.
It is currently unclear whether the electric swap body movers now acquired by DHL are the third-generation ePrecisionMover introduced in 2024, which features a battery capacity of 140 kWh and a DC charging power of 100 kW, or the newer ePrecisionMover 101 with a newly developed driver’s cab, improvements in ergonomics and safety, a revised operating concept, and a battery capacity of 160 kWh.
DHL received its first diesel-powered swap body mover from TII Kamag in 1995, as the company’s first customer. Since then, the German logistics giant has continuously expanded its fleet with vehicles from the manufacturer. For the electric swap body movers, TII Kamag also counts German logistics providers Dachser and Noerpel among its customers.