Doll Airport Equipment, a leading provider of systems for aircraft loading and cleaning, as well as for medical purposes at airports, has begun series production of its half-cut highloaders. With this step, the company is increasing its production capacity and intends to shorten delivery times for these special vehicles. The highloaders, which are used for aircraft loading, will not only be available more quickly but will also offer increased safety and improved operator comfort.
The transition to series production involves a standardized and documented process. Renato Ramella, Managing Director at Doll Airport Equipment, emphasized that this industrial approach enables shorter lead times and ensures consistently high quality with faster delivery, even for large orders. In the past, the conversion of the driver's cabs was carried out by external service providers as a handcrafted individual process. Now, Doll manages the entire production process, from the conversion of the driver's cab to the manufacture of the lifting system and final assembly, according to clearly defined and precisely timed processes.
The new Doll half-cut highloader is based on an Iveco Eurocargo chassis, with the passenger side removed to create a lower lift and transfer bridge. This design allows for the handling of smaller aircraft with a low transfer height and gives the driver a clear view of the aircraft door during docking. The safety and stability of the halved cabins were proven in extensive ECE crash testing prior to series production. The vehicle also meets all the requirements of the EU-wide General Safety Regulation GSR II. To further increase safety, the vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art assistance systems, including a mirror replacement camera system on the missing passenger side, which shows the driver three views of the right-hand side of the vehicle on two screens in the cab.
In addition, a 3D sensor system provides collision protection when approaching the aircraft by scanning the area around the vehicle and automatically braking if the aircraft is detected within 0,5 meters. A 3D camera shows the driver the distance in real time. Maximilian Roth, Vice President of Operations and Engineering at Doll Airport Equipment, emphasized the importance of these systems for precision and safety. Another benefit for customers is the accelerated approval process, as the Doll half-cut highloader has a Europe-wide overall certification (Certificate of Conformity – COC), which enables approval in a single step. This helps ensure that the special vehicles are ready for use on the road and on the runway more quickly.