Tailor-made solutions on show at Linde customer event

Modern industrial companies have seen increasing differentiation and diversification leading to changes and innovation in production including the advent of 3D printing. Equally, the rise of e-commerce has resulted in smaller lot sizes and, in some cases, fundamental changes to order picking requirements and the movement of goods. 

Every production process is different. Depending on raw materials, purchased parts or specialisation, even companies within the same industry have completely different requirements when it comes to logistical processes.

Massimiliano Sammartano, Vice President of Sales and Service Marketing and Operations, said: "With specifically designed or individually developed industrial trucks, our customers increase the productivity, improving safety and reducing costs".

Series production versatility

In terms of mass production, Linde offers the widest range of products and services in the industry. No two trucks are the same and customers can choose from 85 product lines with more than 6,000 variants. 

An example to be showcased at WoMH is the Linde Roadster, an electric counterbalanced forklift truck with special clear view. The A-column has been removed to give an unobstructed view of the driving path and surroundings.  Forces acting on the mast, are absorbed by the overhead tilting cylinders, and directed backwards. The panoramic armoured glass roof also gives a clear view of the load being stored giving reliable protection against falling loads. The Roadster successfully completed tests at Fraport Cargo Services GmbH and clear view concept meant the operator no longer needed signaller, often required for safety reasons.

The new electric pallet truck with a standing driver is also extremely versatile. They can be built to suit any situation – with a driving seat to the side of the fork (like the Linde T14 S and T25 S) and steering wheel or in front of the forks (like the Linde T20Sf and T25 SF). It can also be made into a double decker vehicle (like the D12 S/SF). Measuring just 770 millimetres, the compact chassis is ideal for the efficient loading and unloading of freight trucks as well as fast transportation over long distances. The fully de-coupled workstation also enhances driver comfort keeping both truck and human vibrations to a minimum.

The Linde P60-P80/W08 tractor and cargo transporter series is yet another example of highly customisable trucks. It features strong, compact tow tractors with a driver's seat and traction force of six to eight tonnes. A number of equipment options are available as standard, making the series suitable for production halls as well as outdoor areas in industrial companies and airports. 

Due to their high towing power, the trucks can easily cope with gradients and loading ramps and can also drive over rails, beams or potholes with their high level of ground clearance. The equipment is also being used more frequently as a towing truck for tugger trains and logistics trains. 
A new cargo transporter is also being showcased at WoMH. The platform truck W08 stands out because of its particularly high modularity, offering ideal solutions for individual structures.

But model variants and equipment options are not the only possibilities when it comes to individualisation. Linde also offers an almost unlimited portfolio of customer-specific solutions and tailor-made forklift trucks, precisely adapted to suit different operational requirements. 

One example on show at WoMH is the new pallet stacker Linde L16 AC with central driver platform and an order picking arm which pivots almost 360°. It lifts up to 80 kilograms, mitigating the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for warehouse operatives. The load capacity and order picking arm can also be individually adapted to suit customer requirements. 

Another special customer-specific product to be exhibited is the reel handler truck, a special device based on the Linde R20 reach truck. It is designed to transport large loads on rollers. The chassis is designed so the truck can pick up and safely move rolls of paper using a reel handler.

Retrofit

With the right retrofit solutions, existing trucks can be adapted to take into account developments. For example rising safety standards, or changes to IT infrastructure. 

Examples of new retrofit solutions include the Orange Belt, which has a fastening indicator to detect whether the driver has fastened his or her lap belt correctly; the BlueSpot, an optical driving path warning system; and the Speed Assist, which adjusts the top speed of a truck according to the area of application.

Additions such as height-adjustable terminals and mobile phone holders with their own power supply, also offer greater comfort during networked working.

Nora Baur, Head of Service Sales, said: "Retrofit solutions are becoming increasingly important. They offer considerable advantages for the efficiency of the whole production process, particularly in light of increased networking and automation in factories and warehouses."

Under the title ‘Linked Perspectives’, World of Material Handling will provide answers to the biggest questions which intralogistics will face in the future, networking, individualisation and energy systems in additions to automation.

Manfred Höhn, Head of Marketing Communication and Branding, at Linde MH, said: “Following on from the comprehensive exhibition two years ago, we are concentrating this year on the four most significant areas of expertise which will be of vital importance for our customers in the very near future.”