Task specific

A look at its CeMat stand, shows customer-focused lift trucks from Linde

In line with its new new slogan - engineered for your performance, Linde has emphasised the importance of lift trucks designed for a specific aspect that is crucial to the customer.

The first of these that caught our eye is the rotatable seat.

Linde is offering its customers this option for trucks in the load capacity range of 2 to 8 tonnes.With the rotatable driver's seat (pictured), the operator can rotate the entire driver's cab through 90 degrees. As in reach trucks, the driver sits at an angle to the direction of travel and has an unrestricted view of the driving route.

This means that when driving backwards, drivers can avoid excessively twisting the spine, while taking advantage of the optimal visibility. The rotatable seat is recommended by Linde for all applications involving bulky loads which obstruct the view and which make it necessary to drive backwards.

Roadster Another development, this time specified to excel in terms of visibility, is the roadster version of the Linde E20 to E35 electric forklift product line. The prototype on show, which is based on a Linde E25, no longer has an A-pillar; instead a bent steel tube behind the steering column and dashboard ensures sufficient stability. The roof of the driver's protective frame consists of an integrated pane made of laminated safety glass. Both features ensure that the forklift driver has improved visibility, which makes load handling easier and safer. "If we receive sufficient positive responses, we will consider manufacturing the roadster," says Ralf Dingeldein, head of sales division new trucks at Linde.

Less servicing required Linde also unveiled improvements in servicing. Gear and hydraulic oil consumption for the Linde E20 to E50 forklifts amount to 77 litres. The hydraulic oil does not need to be changed for the first 6,000 operating hours or three years.

Comparable competitor trucks require at least four times as much oil and the maintenance intervals are significantly shorter, says Linde. In addition to helping to protect the environment, customers can therefore also take advantage of cost savings.