innovaTive grounD PoWer suPPly for aircrafTs - HTI - High Tech ...
innovaTive grounD PoWer suPPly for aircrafTs - HTI - High Tech ...
innovaTive grounD PoWer suPPly for aircrafTs - HTI - High Tech ...
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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!