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<strong>HTI</strong> <strong>for</strong> you | Winter 2011<br />

enquired<br />

Amongst the visitors of the Hitzinger booth was also Mr. Bernhard Scholz,<br />

Senior Manager of Fraport AG, the operating company of Frankfurt airport.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU asked Mr. Scholz <strong>for</strong> an interview.<br />

Bernhard Scholz<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Mister Scholz, the airport Frankfurt is<br />

the largest German civil airport by far and at the<br />

same time one of the world’s most important aviation<br />

hubs. The Fraport AG is the ‘operating company‘<br />

of the airport Frankfurt and – amongst others – responsible<br />

<strong>for</strong> the equipment purchase of the airport.<br />

How many Hitzinger GPUs are currently in use at<br />

Frankfurt airport?<br />

Mr. Scholz: We exclusively use mobile ground power<br />

units made by Hitzinger. Currently we have 70 Hitzinger<br />

GPUs in use, 68 pieces with 28 Volt/400 Hz and 2<br />

real 28 Volt units.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Since when has the business cooperation<br />

between you and Hitzinger been existing? How<br />

did it happen?<br />

Mr. Scholz: We have been cooperating with Hitzinger<br />

since the year 2000. At the turn of the millennium we<br />

were not at all happy with the supplier we had at that<br />

time, because the ground power units of the airport<br />

Frankfurt were technically not up to the latest standard.<br />

Consequently, we started a wide-ranged market<br />

analysis, checked various suppliers and then took the<br />

decision <strong>for</strong> the best supplier – and that was Hitzinger.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Which aspects are the most crucial<br />

ones when it comes to equipment purchase?<br />

Mr. Scholz: Naturally, the purchase price is always<br />

crucial, but we also focus on the life-cycle-costs, the<br />

fuel consumption, the service range, the technological<br />

quality and the compliance with legal guidelines.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Why do you prefer GPUs made by Hitzinger?<br />

What distinguishes them from competition<br />

equipment?<br />

Mr. Scholz: I want to stress the exorbitant, almost<br />

incomparable good service provided by Hitzinger. For<br />

the past 11 years we have been working together in<br />

a partnership-based cooperation, which keeps working<br />

sensationally well. The prices of the units are<br />

slightly above market level, but the quality is splendid,<br />

the spare parts service works like a clockwork and<br />

we are also highly satisfied with the delivery times.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Hitzinger has introduced the D POWER<br />

and S POWER this year at the Inter Airport Europe.<br />

Do you think, with these novelties Hitzinger is well<br />

equipped <strong>for</strong> the future?<br />

Mr. Scholz: Absolutely! With the D POWER Hitzinger<br />

has reduced the rpm from 1.846 to 1.500 – consequently<br />

this GPU consumes less fuel and additionally<br />

the noise level is reduced. Static ground power supply<br />

units like the S POWER enable an almost emission<br />

free energy supply, which is one of the key features<br />

<strong>for</strong> them being an indispensable part of modern airports.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: International experts considered this<br />

year’s Inter Airport Europe as an important trend<br />

indicator. How do you rate the further developments<br />

in the field of ground power supply <strong>for</strong> aircrafts <strong>for</strong><br />

the next 10 to 15 years?<br />

Mr. Scholz: The per<strong>for</strong>mance of the ground power<br />

units will not increase anymore – but we expect changes<br />

in trans<strong>for</strong>mer technology. Here, Hitzinger had<br />

introduced the S POWER at the Inter Airport Europe,<br />

which surprised us very positively. It is characterized<br />

by its modular design, compact shape and allowing<br />

remote diagnosis and –maintenance. What personally<br />

impressed me at the Hitzinger booth were the top<br />

motivated, smart, young Hitzinger engineers who very<br />

enthusiastically presented their products. I haven’t<br />

seen something like that since Apple founder Steve<br />

Jobs presented his iPhone. (laughs)<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: What in your expert opinion would you<br />

recommend to Hitzinger <strong>for</strong> future developments and<br />

product expansions?<br />

Mr. Scholz: To keep the high quality standards as well<br />

as the innovative path that was chosen by Hitzinger<br />

is most important. A quality supplier will always<br />

prevail on the market!<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Let’s have a look at your future: How<br />

does your company want to develop within the next<br />

few years? Where does the airport Frankfurt want to<br />

be in future?<br />

Mr. Scholz: We made the first step with our third runway,<br />

which commenced operation on October 21 this<br />

year. Due to this increase in capacity, parallel aircraft<br />

movements are made possible, and the movements<br />

can be step-by-step increased from currently 83 to<br />

126 per hour. Also the expansion of terminal 1 by gate<br />

‘A-Plus’, which will put into operation in summer 2012,<br />

will be crucial <strong>for</strong> the airport Frankfurt meeting the<br />

increasing demands of passengers and airlines.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Will there be a higher demand <strong>for</strong><br />

ground power units due to these expansions?<br />

Mr. Scholz: Yes, mainly <strong>for</strong> static ground power aggregates,<br />

since due to the expansion of the traffic<br />

volume it is our duty to keep the hence connected<br />

burdens <strong>for</strong> people and the environment as low as<br />

possible. Consequently, our terminals are designed<br />

<strong>for</strong> them to have static units on site. Currently we have<br />

104 static ground power units in use, through the<br />

extension by gate ‘A-Plus’ we will demand a further<br />

seven units.<br />

<strong>HTI</strong> FOR YOU: Mister Scholz, thank you very much <strong>for</strong><br />

the interview and your visit to our booth!

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