Dinolift product and factory launch event

Part of the new area of Dinolift’s expanded factory in Loimaa.

The company’s Raikkola factory upgrade opened in July and has seen its footprint expanded by 2,400 square metres to a total area of 15,700 square metres.

The result is increased efficiencies, compared to the original factory built in the 1960s, across manufacturing, material flow and the logistics chain, as well as a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Past operations that were spread across three different sites will be centralised in the Raikkola facility. A major investment is a new dedicated in-house robotic welding  system which has shortened production times. The company has also brought production of major components in-house, including hydraulic cylinders, which helps it control the overall workflow and compete against pressures in the supply chain.

Teemu Ristelä, commercial manager at Dinolift, told AI at the event that the increased capacity of the updated plant would reduce transport between the company’s second plant, around 10km away, which previously housed all welding.

The Dino 2.0 event included a panel discussion about sustainability and modern work practices, hosted by event compere André Noël Chaker, one of Finland’s leading business speakers, with Minna Salmi, Dinolift’s finance and business director; Thomas Bülow senior VP – EMEA, Trackunit; Milla Törmälä, director general, Vatupassi; and Lars Sørby, owner and chair of board at Sørby Utleie.

Ristelä explained that the capacity of the previous factory was around 1,000 units per year and with Dinolift’s output rising to 960 this year, there was a need to expand and most importantly create a lean manufacturing process.

Apart from an unhindered flow of orders from its biggest market Europe, particularly in the north of the continent, Australia is also seeing increased sales and North America has seen a major uptick and is forecasted to contribute as much as 20% of Dinolift’s total sales volume next year.

As Ristelä says the increased output has come despite the pressures in supply chains, with the additional factor being the trend for larger equipment, which has led to a greater number of its 4x4 RXT boom lifts in production. This increase in unit size has also led to an increase in revenue for the company.

“With the increase in efficiency in the factory we do not have to add a complete second shift and this leaves open an increase in capacity in the long run as an option,” Ristelä adds. 

Electric launch

The Dino 280RXTE at the launch event.

The company was also launching its first all-electric boom lifts at the event. The lightweight Dino RXTE, with outriggers, is an extension of the Dino RXT Series of lightweight 4x4 boom lifts, with the advantage of silent operation and zero emissions and lower cost of operation.

As with the existing diesel versions, the series includes two models with working height models of 22 an 28m equipped with either an AGM or Li-Ion battery pack.

One of the design principles of the new models was that there would be no loss on drive or boom operation speeds, compared to the diesel machines. 

The RXTE has a range of lift functions that can be used at the same, such as operating the outriggers simultaneously while driving is also possible. The electric motor has a continuous power rating of 15kW while the peak power is 20kW.

Karin Nars, CEO of Dinolift, toasts the crowd at the 2.0 Launch and Housewarming Event.

Thanks to the lightweight structure and outriggers there is a general reduction in operational costs when comparing the RXT or RXTE to a larger boom lift with a larger 19kW engine. The units can be used in areas with load restrictions or where the surface is soft, for example lawns.

Leveling capability is up to 13.5 degrees with today´s improved outrigger model. The RXTE will also have four wheel drive and two-wheel, four-wheel and crab steering.

Another feature of the RXTE is that the structure and hydraulics largely coincide with the diesel model. In addition, with the overall weight being less than 5000kg on the 280RXTE, with Lithium battery pack and slightly over 5000kg with the AGM battery pack, the lifts can still transported on smaller trucks or in pairs on standard flatbed trailer or in a container for longer journeys, as with the diesel versions. 

The Dinolift 280RXTE

For tough work environments, where battery power may be depleted sooner, there is an optional combustion engine range extender that can be bolted onto the unit to charge the battery if required in non-environmentally sensitive settings.

The diesel model will remain in the range alongside with the fully electric versions.

The RXTE will next be shown at the GaLaBau gardening, landscaping and green design exhibition, 14-17 September, in Nuremberg and at the Bauma exhibition, 24-30 October, in Germany. 

It will go into production by the end of this year, with units be ready for delivery in 2023.

Telematics offering 

The unit, along with the complete Dinolift range will benefit from the manufacturer’s newly-introduced MyDino telematics and fleet management system, based on Trackunit’s hardware and software.

MyDino is available as a mobile app or desktop version and is designed for the end customer and lift operator, providing fleet management, as well as technical support for distributors, rental companies.

With the device it is possible to track location, set geofencing and efficiently monitor transfers between rentals. Preventive maintenance planning can be taken to the next level and the service records stored in the system. Pre-set use reports and machine performance data can be exported to most operating systems using the API interface.

In addition, the company has added channels to monitor load situations, overloads, as well as outriggers being correcty set up. In addition, CO2 emissions can be estimated and reported through engine rpm and usage.

All these features are also available on Dino trailer mounted and spider lifts. In addition, the RXT boom lifts and VT/VTH truck mounts operated using the CAN-BUS control system have visibility of error codes and onboard sensors to monitor machine status, for example if recalibration is required.

MyDino is available now on all new MEWPs and will be a standard feature on all deliveries from the beginning of 2023. It is also possible to retrofit the system on most older Dino models.