Linde MH: Good for the climate, for handling performance and costs

With innovative products and software solutions as well as tailor-made services, the goods handling specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) supports its customers on their way to a more sustainable future. The focus is on the goal of reducing CO2 emissions, saving energy and cutting costs while maintaining high handling performance. The various offers are subsumed under the motto “Green Performance”. The measures range from high-performance vehicle models with lithium-ion batteries and the first fuel cell developed in Aschaffenburg to solutions for battery charging and energy management, HVO fuels, software-supported consulting services and battery recycling.

“The search for economical, climate-friendly energy solutions presents our customers with major challenges.” Stefan Prokosch, Senior Vice President Brand Management at Linde Material Handling, knows this from numerous discussions with industrial truck operators and network partners. Forklift trucks and warehouse trucks are expected to make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse emissions. At the same time, the vehicles should continue to deliver the usual high performance and provide relief on the cost side wherever possible.

Linde MH has taken a first major step in this direction with its new generation of forklift trucks. For the first time, the Linde X electric forklift models are on a par with internal combustion engines, even in demanding outdoor applications, and combine the advantages of both drive options. Emission-free in operation, potentially climate-neutral, ergonomic, quiet and easy to service, the trucks with lithium-ion battery are the perfect alternative to diesel or LPG trucks. From April 2023, when the next larger series goes on sale, this will apply not only to loads of two to 3.5 tonnes, but also to larger tonnages in the 3.5 to five tonne range. The fact that Linde MH is serious about the changeover to clean electric trucks was already underlined by the manufacturer last year with the electrification of its heavy-duty trucks in the payload range from ten to 18 tonnes. An electric drive variant is now available for all Linde vehicle models. Linde MH has also taken another important step forward in battery recycling. A strategic cooperation with the company Li-Cycle will ensure environmentally friendly recovery of the materials for the lithium-ion batteries delivered in future. “Linde MH customers can rest assured that the batteries will be recycled at the end of their useful life and that up to 95 per cent of the raw materials will be recovered and returned to the material cycle,” Prokosch holds out the prospect.

Hydrogen is gaining importance as another type of energy. This is because it, too, can potentially be obtained from regenerative sources such as sun, wind or water and is thus sustainable. At the LogiMAT trade fair in Stuttgart, Linde MH is presenting its first own fuel cell system. The stacks, with 24 volts of voltage and 1.8 kW of power, will be used in order pickers and tow tractors when they are launched on the market, and in future also in low-lift trucks and double-deck loaders of the Linde brand. “With Linde HyPower, we have developed an exceptionally robust, powerful and user-friendly fuel cell system and are now in a position to offer our customers in the warehouse technology segment a complete ‘one stop shop’ solution consisting of vehicle, fuel cell system and service,” announces the top brand manager at Linde MH. Hydrogen-powered trucks are particularly convincing due to their short refuelling times, their suitability for both indoor and outdoor use and the fact that they are emission-free. The vehicles show their advantages particularly in multi-shift operations with many operating hours.

“For those customers who, for various reasons, continue to rely on diesel trucks, we offer an option in the form of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), with which they too can reduce the CO2 emissions of their vehicles by up to 90 percent,” Prokosch emphasises.

However, the claim of “Green Performance” does not only refer to products. Software solutions and consulting services also make their contribution. For example, the intelligent battery charging management system Linde connect:charger helps customers to avoid energy load peaks and to adapt the charging strategy depending on the situation – always with the aim of optimising energy consumption and energy costs with maximum availability and taking the best possible account of renewable energies. The company-wide integration of all energy-relevant aspects succeeds with the Linde Energy Manager. “By determining energy consumption in advance, taking into account all producers and consumers, and planning energy purchases, both CO2 emissions and energy costs can be reduced,” summarises Stefan Prokosch.

For more information, please visit: https://www.linde-mh.com/en/