1. Collaboration with Zeppelin Oil Laboratory
In April 2024, Sven Blanke, Service and Warranty Manager at klarx, launched an initial test phase together with Zeppelin Oil Laboratory (ZOD) to make the maintenance of construction machinery in the klarx-operated logistics centers more efficient, cost-effective, and above all, more sustainable.
During this test phase of collaboration with Zeppelin Oil Laboratory, the hydraulic oil of all Yanmar construction machines from the Munich logistics center was initially analyzed. Samples were taken from each machine, labeled, and sent to the oil laboratory. Since 1997, Zeppelin has been analyzing engine, transmission, axle, and hydraulic oil as well as coolant and fuel samples in its own oil laboratory – and the number has steadily increased. By now, approximately 140,000 samples are analyzed annually. Thanks to Zeppelin's comprehensive database, the experts can determine from an oil sample when the oil needs to be changed. The results of the oil analysis follow a traffic light system that provides information about contamination, oil condition, oil cleanliness, and viscosity.
Quote: "We work with incredible precision. Wear elements, additives, and contaminants are all measured in the invisible range and reported in ppm (parts per million)," says Dagmar Welzl, Head of ZOD.
2. The First Hydraulic Oil Tests
During this initial test phase, which took place in the spring, klarx was able to have the hydraulic oil of 64 Yanmar construction machines tested. Each of these machines requires between 35 liters and 100 liters of hydraulic oil. The oil analyses from Zeppelin Laboratory showed that the hydraulic oil of all these machines was in the green zone and therefore did not need to be changed. "This way we were able to save 5,028 liters of hydraulic oil and reduce the environmental impact caused by refilling new oil and disposal. Furthermore, the collaboration with Zeppelin Oil Laboratory is very efficient – we had the test results within 48 hours," says Sven Blanke, Service and Warranty Manager at klarx.
Beyond the reduced environmental impact, oil analysis at the Zeppelin Oil Laboratory offers additional benefits, as the klarx logistics center teams can continuously monitor the condition of individual construction machines and prevent damage. Oil diagnostics can also provide information about wear and tear. This way, not only can repair costs be saved, but it can also be ensured that all machines are operational for our customers' projects and support them in completing their construction projects on schedule.
"klarx has set itself the goal of not only digitizing the construction industry but also making it sustainable. We do this through our more than 5,100 partner stations throughout Germany, which enable our customers to source their machines locally and reduce the transportation kilometers of construction machinery to the job site. We are pleased to have launched another initiative together with our partner Zeppelin that particularly makes our logistics centers more sustainable," says Florian Handschuh, Managing Director and Co-Founder of klarx.
The hydraulic oil tests for Yanmar construction machines in klarx's own logistics center in Munich was an initial test. Following the successful completion of the first test phase, the klarx team is already planning to conduct oil tests for other oils of various construction machines in all three logistics centers.
Image Credits: "Sample from an Oil Test" - ZOD
