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been refining this formula, turning it into a platform for innovation. Today, the company’s electric ranges, including the ELX, EGX and the newly launched EXL, are redefining what efficiency means, combining high-voltage performance with lower emissions and smarter safety systems.


ELECTRIFICATION: NOT JUST ABOUT COST In previous market cycles, “going electric” was framed largely as a cost-saving exercise. Rising diesel prices and maintenance savings were persuasive, but the conversation has changed.


For the largest timber groups, electrification is now primarily an environmental and reputational decision that aligns with ESG targets and long-term sustainability commitments.


Merronbrook Ltd in the UK, for example, runs Baumann electric sideloaders as part of its drive to reach net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.


James Jones & Sons Ltd, another long- term Baumann customer, has taken a hybrid route by introducing HVO-powered diesel sideloaders as an interim step toward full electrification.


Each approach reflects the same underlying shift: the timber industry’s recognition that environmental performance is inseparable from business performance.


POWER DISTRIBUTION AND SCALE If the case for electric sideloaders is clear, implementation is less straightforward. Many large sawmills operate in rural or semi- industrial areas where power distribution is limited. Running several high-capacity electric machines simultaneously can test the site’s electrical infrastructure. Larger mills may also need multiple charging points or fast-charge options to cover long shifts, particularly when working across multiple sheds or outdoor yards. Baumann has designed its systems to address those challenges. The company’s 120- volt platform, used across the ELX, EGX and EXL models, improves efficiency throughout the electrical system, allowing faster charging and longer runtime between cycles. Modular charging stations and battery-exchange options offer further flexibility for high- demand sites.


PRACTICAL PROGRESS Not every business can make the leap all at once. At Kittl, a family-run sawmill in Bavaria, the transition from diesel to electric is unfolding steadily and successfully. For more than three decades, the company has relied on Baumann sideloaders to move sawn timber and finished packs across its busy yard. Its fleet tells a story of durability


and evolution: three diesel Baumanns, one of which is still in daily operation after more than 30 years, and a recently acquired ELX electric model.


“The oldest Baumann is from the early 1990s and still running reliably every day,” said Simon Ahammer, from Eder Stapler. “That kind of longevity gives confidence in the brand, so when it came time to invest again, an electric model was a more comfortable choice.”


An array of solar panels also means the company generates its own low-cost energy, as does Glennon Brothers, another Baumann user, although that power is generated via a biomass-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plant at its sawmill in Troon, Scotland, which generates electricity and heat by burning wood waste like sawdust and bark. The switch at Kittl was not driven purely by cost, however. The quieter, emission-free ELX offers a better working environment, particularly in the sawmill’s mixed indoor and outdoor layout, and its compact footprint helps maximise limited yard space. The 120-volt system and intelligent charging cycle proved manageable within the existing infrastructure. The result is a hybrid fleet that reflects the wider industry, where diesel and electric coexist as businesses plan a phased approach to sustainability. “We see this as the beginning of a new phase,” added Mr Ahammer. “Diesel has served the sector well, but the benefits of electric are already clear.”


TECHNOLOGY AS AN ENABLER Baumann’s recent innovations underline how far electric sideloaders have progressed. The company’s EXL model, launched at LIGNA 2025, represents a major leap forward in high-capacity, compact electric handling. The EXL delivers a 5-tonne capacity within a compact 4,200mm length and a platform height of only 750mm, allowing it to thrive in narrow aisles where space efficiency is essential. Available with 1,200mm or 1,400mm decks, and total widths of 2,000mm or 2,200mm, it balances robust load handling with agile manoeuvrability.


The EXL features a powerful 120V/700Ah battery system, developed with a leading battery provider, and a 21kW charger for sustained high performance across demanding shifts. The X-Plus outreach system provides 150mm of additional reach, while hydraulic fork adjustment and a load-sensing lift pump ensure precise, energy-efficient handling.


The spacious cabin includes air suspension seating, heating systems, and intuitive controls that reduce fatigue. The sort of features that operators notice when they’re operating long shifts.


By redesigning every component for reduced weight and greater efficiency,


Baumann engineers achieved extended runtime between charges without compromising on power. The EXL also integrates Baumann’s award-winning SafeLoad Assistance Active+ system, which uses embedded sensors to track load weight, reach, and centre of gravity in real time. If the machine approaches unsafe parameters, the system automatically limits functions, preventing tipping or overloading. Certified to ISO 13849 Performance Level


D, Active+ provides one of the highest safety levels available in industrial trucks and offers peace of mind for operators and fleet managers alike.


Such innovations show how electrification is more than a fuel change. It is a redesign of the entire operating ecosystem, where performance, safety and sustainability work in harmony.


GLOBAL MARKETS, LOCAL PRESSURES Regional differences remain stark. In southern Europe, where grid energy is comparatively affordable and government incentives are strong, electrification is gathering pace. In northern and central Europe, slower construction and tighter margins have made some companies more cautious. Outside Europe, markets like North America and Australia are catching up. As Craig Armstrong-Fray, Baumann’s regional manager, has noted, breaking through in traditionally diesel-dominated industries takes time, but once customers experience the performance of a modern electric sideloader, perceptions change rapidly. Globally, Baumann’s order intake now sits at around 80-85% electric, a complete reversal from a decade ago.


THE VALUE OF RESPONSIBILITY Electrification may begin as an operational upgrade, but it ends as a statement of intent. For major timber processors, environmental accountability now shapes investment decisions as much as return on capital. Companies with transparent carbon reporting and sustainability governance increasingly view clean equipment as a form of risk management, protecting their brand, workforce and long-term licence to operate. As Klaus Pirpamer puts it, “The question isn’t just how much you save per shift, it’s how much you gain in resilience and trust.” For all the headwinds facing the timber trade, the industry’s appetite for progress remains strong. From Bavaria to Belgium, from Italy to Inverness, timber businesses are re-examining how they move materials, consume energy and plan for the next generation.


Electric sideloaders have emerged as a symbol of that shift, combining the heritage of reliable engineering with the promise of cleaner, smarter performance. ■


www.ttjonline.com | November/December 2025 | TTJ


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