Palfinger crane complements high-spec Unimog

Heidekreis, Germany-based solar panel installer Energie-Spar-Centrum Altenwahlingen took delivery of a U 530 Mercedes Benz Unimog equipped with a Palfinger PK 27002-SH crane. The Unimog also has a Palfinger cable winch and a steered rear axle.

The Unimog was supplied by vehicle distributor Peter Meineke from Bad Fallingbostel-Dorfmark. As well as the Palfinger crane and winch, the Unimog was equipped with a Hauer frontloader with pallet fork, anthracite paint finish, sun visor and work lamps. Its looks have earned it the nickname Mad Max.

The U 530 has an uprating for a gross weight of 16 tonnes and is used to tow an 18 tonne fully-enclosed swap body. The solar modules are stored in this on pallets.

Bernd Jastremski, manager at Energie-Spar-Centrum Altenwahlingen, explained how the front loader and Palfinger crane complement each other in helping him with his work: “If the road conditions don’t permit us to do otherwise, we can unload the trailer at a location further along using the front loader and then drive the pallet over to the work site before using the crane to hoist the modules up onto the roof. Plus, no other comparable vehicle offers a steered rear axle. With it, the turning circle is extraordinarily small. And that’s a major advantage for us.”