GEIGER GROUP

The Geiger Group, headquartered in Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region of Germany, relies on smart weighing technology from VEI for its wheel loaders – and for good reason: Since 1923, Geiger has been known as a versatile group of companies, equally at home in civil engineering and construction as in demolition, recycling, and mining. The group's range of operations is enormous – nearly 4,000 employees work at over 100 locations in Germany and Europe. To date, 33 machines have been equipped with "HelperX," a high-end solution that not only functions as a simple wheel loader scale but also offers outstanding payload management and must meet high expectations.

A large proportion of bulk materials at Geiger are loaded and invoiced using wheel loaders, which is precisely why reliable weighing technology is essential. After decades of operation, the Geiger Group reports that there was an urgent need for action following the discontinuation of the previously used system. The requirements for a new solution were high – and the specialists at VEI ultimately prevailed with their "Helper" models. The core objective is to provide payload management that sustainably simplifies work processes. In addition to production monitoring, "HelperX" also enables the handling of multiple loading operations simultaneously and the complete management of loading and master data.

The stated goal was to achieve maximum productivity and reliability, which is why Geiger developed a comprehensive set of criteria and scrutinized solutions from various providers. "We wanted to establish a new standard at Geiger and equip all wheel loaders with the identical setup – both in terms of the hardware components and the associated software version," emphasizes Axel Röder, Project Manager for Digitalization at the Geiger Group. “We were looking for a solution that was easy to use but also capable of automatically transferring and processing data to generate real added value in the office.” Another obstacle, Axel Röder continued, was the signal quality within the mobile network: Network coverage is limited at some Geiger locations, making it challenging to ensure the essential data transmission. “Since 2019, all our newly acquired wheel loaders have been equipped exclusively with VEI scales, and existing equipment is being gradually retrofitted, as the system addresses precisely these problem factors, offers the best setup for us, and is tailored to the needs of our operators.” In fact, VEI and Geiger worked for over two and a half years to customize the “Helper” and adapt it to the specific requirements of each location. “A major advantage was certainly that we were already using the Helper models productively at that time – new functions could therefore be tested and further developed quickly during ongoing operations.”

Geiger and VEI – a success story

The setup developed with Geiger has now been running stably for years. “We were also able to solve the problem of limited network coverage together with VEI to ensure the continuity of our operations. We were also particularly impressed by the user-friendly and intuitive interface of the scale,” says Röder. Geiger is also satisfied with the collaboration because, according to the company, VEI takes a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach: “They don’t force us into unnecessary bureaucratic waiting loops, but focus on the essentials.” And: “The VEI team,” Axel Röder continues, “treats us as equals: Everyone is respectful and honest with each other, regardless of their position or area of responsibility.” Fair, open, and honest conduct is a core value within the Geiger Group, essential for successful collaboration.