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Tag: forklifts

IFOY Test Report: Aisle Master OP

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In the run-up to the IFOY Award ceremony in Dortmund on June 22nd, Logistics Business features all the 2023 finalists and shares the verdict from the IFOY test conducted during the evaluation by an expert jury in March. Today’s entry is the Aisle Master OP from Combilift.

Category: Warehouse truck “highlifter”

IFOY test verdict:

Combilift is in the final of the IFOY AWARD with the Aisle Master OP, in short AME-OP. The order picking truck with articulated mast has been developed for use in narrow aisles and is available with load capacities of 1.5 to 2 tons and lift heights of up to 12.1 meters.

The concept of the Aisle Master is not new. The articulated mast truck was once introduced as an alternative to reach trucks. Thanks to its unique steering and drive system, its striking appearance is definitely advantageous in narrow aisles. Compared to the average reach truck, the aisle width can be as much as 80cm narrower. In some cases, the Aisle Master even performs his work in aisles no wider than 1.75 meters. The concept is particularly popular in the UK, but articulated mast trucks are also used elsewhere.

With the Aisle Master OP, Combilift offers a new application for this type of truck. OP stands for Order Picker, and this is exactly what the IFOY truck is designed for. Since the operator must get on and off the truck regularly to pick orders, the cab is equipped with a stand-up seat. A comfortable cushion supports the operator while driving and the high position allows a good view of the load and direction of travel.

During the test drive, it is evident that the operation of the Aisle Master takes some getting used to. Loading and unloading pallets requires both steering and driving movements. Joystick operation for driving is a combination of moving the joystick and pressing “unlock” for driving. Steering is relatively predictable thanks to the new steering system, which uses a hydraulic cylinder and chains for overall control.

The low, obstacle-free entry and exit of only 280mm allows easy and safe entry with one step on either side of the truck. Picking works faster this way than if the operator has to hop on and off from a seated position. However, to enter and exit on the right side, the joystick controls must first be raised

This multifunctional, programmable joystick control ̶ for all hydraulic functions and traction ̶ replaces the mechanical levers of the “normal” Aisle Master. The joystick is adjustable and allows a comfortable and ergonomic working position for operators of all sizes.

The display is also different. The touch display of the Aisle Master OP shows all important forklift information briefly.

IFOY test verdict: The Aisle Master OP is the first stand-up order picker with an articulated mast. The stacker can also be used as a high lift truck or reach truck in narrow aisles. However, smooth operation requires an experienced operator. In this case, effective pallet handling in very narrow aisles can be achieved with the Aisle Master.

IFOY Innovation Check

Market Relevance: The new Aisle Master OP by Combilift represents a considerable improvement compared to similar products and previous models, whereby a high market relevance is seen for the markets in which articulated forklifts are established. The change to a continuous stand-on platform in particular creates the possibility of order picking from both sides. Thus, the range of applications expands significantly, and this creates a high level of attractiveness for replacement or new purchases of such trucks.

Customer Benefit: Customers benefit from the Aisle Master OP due to its versatility of application possibilities in the narrowest of indoor and outdoor spaces. Storage and retrieval in the narrowest aisle widths from 1,750mm with the possibility of picking at the same time. Thus, the benefit also undoubtedly lies in maximising the utilisation of storage space and increasing the efficiency of storage processes.

Novelties / Innovations: The basic principle of the articulated forklift remains the same with the Aisle Master OP and is extended by the variant with a continuous standing platform as well as the new type of steering via crossed chain. The possibility of fast access from both sides and the basic possibility of order picking is a novelty for this type of industrial truck. However, truly effective order picking from different rack locations on pallets is only possible with order-picking forklifts designed directly for this purpose.

Functionality / Type of Implementation: The Aisle Master OP has a very robust and exemplary design and surprises with its high stability despite the articulated arm principle. The overall impression suggests a long service life. Storing and retrieving is very precise due to the driven front wheels in a very confined space, although some practice is required with regard to the somewhat complex operation.

Verdict: A candidate that will inspire the target group in its market.

Market relevance +
Customer benefit ++
Novelty / Innovation Ø
Functionality / Type of implementation +
[KEY: ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available]

Blue Giant Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Blue Giant Equipment Corporation is celebrating its 60th anniversary of serving the needs of customers around the world. The company describes itself as the premier provider of safe, effective, and innovative loading docks and material handling equipment solutions.

Blue Giant was founded in 1963 by Kurt Larsen and quickly became a leading manufacturer of dock levellers and hand pallet trucks. The company’s consumer base expanded rapidly, leading to new product offerings in loading dock and material handling solutions. The company has grown to become a major global presence, exporting to more than 40 countries and boasting manufacturing facilities in four countries.

With an eye to the future, Blue Giant continues its vision as a solutions provider. Its mission is to be the global leader in loading dock safety systems and ergonomic solutions.

“With this milestone, we are honouring our past and inspiring our future. I am thankful to the many dedicated Blue Giant Employees who have contributed to our global success throughout our history and those that are a part of our bright future,” said Steve Barbosa, Blue Giant President.

“We are formalising our commitment to quality through QMS certification, expanding operations in Mexico, advancing our Blue Genius controls to an HMI platform and are destined to be a software company with our Connected Equipment Solutions development. To our customers, distributor partners, suppliers and employees we thank you for 60 years, our best years are ahead!”

 

Hyster Previews Zero-Emission Terminal Tractor at TOC

Posted on by Keith McKinley

At TOC Europe 2023, Hyster will discuss solutions for port equipment electrification, giving visitors a first glimpse of the zero-emission terminal tractor Hyster is developing with Capacity Trucks at stand C11. The company will also be on hand to share updates on its hydrogen and lithium-ion powered Container Handlers.

“We are delighted to be back at TOC Europe to share our latest innovations that bring advanced power sources to port equipment and help support businesses with their zero-emission strategies,” says Jan-Willem van den Brand, Director Global Market Development at Hyster. “For us, bringing ‘Clean Power that Means Business’ to ports is about understanding the whole application, and its challenges, to provide solutions that support sustainability goals and also meet performance and productivity needs of the operation.”

Visitors to stand C11 will see a preview of the technologies that Hyster is developing with yard truck brand Capacity to provide its first zero-emissions terminal tractor for use in Europe to Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA). The machine will be powered by Nuvera hydrogen fuel cells and run on hydrogen fuel produced locally at the HHLA Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub.

Electrifying Higher-Capacity Port Equipment

This zero-emissions solution is just the latest in a series of developments where Hyster is at the forefront of electrifying higher-capacity port equipment that has traditionally relied on internal combustion engine (ICE) power. The company is currently testing the first-ever, real-world pilot of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered container handler at the Port of Los Angeles. This project was also recently recognised as a finalist for the World Hydrogen Awards 2023.

In addition, Hyster is developing an Empty Container Handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells for HHLA in Hamburg, Germany and previously announced a pilot of a fuel-cell powered ReachStacker at the Port of Valencia as part of the European Horizon 2020 programme and H2Ports project. Furthermore, Hyster recently revealed that it will provide with CARU Containers B.V. with a 100% battery-powered Hyster Empty Container Handler for use in a depot in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The electric empty container handler will be powered by 650-volt lithium-ion batteries, with electricity sourced from solar panels on site at the CARU depot.

“Electrification is not just about buying a battery powered truck, there are also considerations that must be made around infrastructure,” says van den Brand. “For instance, we know how important standardised charging is for ports that are aiming to switch to a completely electric fleet, so the Hyster equipment we are developing aims to feature CCS (Common Charging System) capability across the range. This could help make the transition to zero-emission equipment easier, while supporting scheduled and opportunity charging in operations.”

Robotic Charging

Hyster is also helping customers explore the possibilities of robotic charging for electric trucks, and will share an example of an autonomous charging system on the Hyster stand at TOC Europe.

“We are developing the new Terminal Tractor to be ready for autonomous charging, so those choosing that route can do so easily and quickly,” says van den Brand. “However, this is just one example of how we are working with partners and championing new technologies to provide solutions that simplify the transition to electrification in ports and terminals.”

The development of hydrogen and lithium-ion powered equipment is moving ports closer to total electrification, which could help operations to reduce emissions, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs without compromising performance. However, to support a wide range of businesses on their journey towards electrification, Hyster lift trucks can also now utilise HVO 100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) as a fuel source to help reduce emissions. This may provide a stop-gap solution that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, meets Tier III, Tier IV, and Stage V emissions regulations, and can be applied to both new Hyster trucks and those already in the field.

“We know that every port and terminal is different, so we encourage attendees at TOC Europe to come to the Hyster stand to discuss their particular application needs, and learn why partnering with Hyster may help them identify the zero-emissions equipment solutions that they need,” concludes van den Brand.

 

Clark Europe Names New BDM

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Holger Schmitz has been the new Business Development Manager at Clark Europe in Duisburg with effect from April 2023. His new area of responsibility includes expanding the dealer network in Europe as well as supporting the Clark Regional Managers.

Holger Schmitz is no stranger to Clark. His professional career took him to the then Mülheim-based materials handling vehicles manufacturer back in 2000. A traineeship was followed by a permanent position in the internal sales department. In 2003, he moved to Pramac Lifter, where he worked as a dealer advisor. From 2007 until recently, Schmitz was employed by Doosan Industrial Vehicle Europe as County Manager and managed the German branches as well as the sales activities in the DACH region and Eastern Europe.

“We are delighted to have Holger Schmitz back on board and wish him every success in his new role,” says Rolf Eiten, President and CEO at Clark Europe. “The expansion of the Clark dealer network is one of our key objectives alongside the expansion of the product range. We want to position ourselves better and better not only on the European market, but worldwide. For this, we not only need new dealers, but also more efficient ones.”

As Business Development Manager, Holger Schmitz reports to Stefan Budweit, Director Sales & Marketing at Clark Europe.

 

Linde Producing Hydrogen for in-house Material Flow

Posted on by David Priestman

It is a pilot project that is unparalleled in this industry in Germany and even throughout Europe: Using its own infrastructure, Linde Material Handling (MH) is now producing green hydrogen to power 21 fuel cell forklifts of its in-house fleet. On Thursday, May 11, the new hydrogen production facility and vehicles were officially put into operation at the Aschaffenburg site. The investment is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ). The goal is to gain experience and build up expertise in order to be able to provide customers with comprehensive advice and support on the use of hydrogen in material flow processes.

“The topic of energy is emerging as one of the major challenges of this decade and beyond,” Stefan Prokosch, Senior Vice President Brand Management Linde Material Handling, said at the inauguration ceremony. “In our search for potential solutions, we identified hydrogen as an option in the energy mix of the future.” He pointed out that this applied especially to applications in intralogistics, because, in addition to potential climate neutrality, the rapid refueling of industrial trucks with hydrogen during intensive multi-shift operations posed a major advantage. “A three-minute refueling time corresponds to a comparable charging power of about 480 kW,” he explained. In addition, the energy carrier could act as an energy store with the increased use of renewable energy sources in the future, for example to temporarily store electricity generated by means of photovoltaics or wind power. “We want to have the entire range of energy supply options in our portfolio so as to be able to offer our customers the best possible solution for their specific needs. With this strategy, we will also be able to remain flexible and open to different developments. After all, no one knows exactly where this journey will actually end up,” explained the top brand manager.

Demonstrating courage, breaking new ground

Around 2.8 million euros have been invested in the planning and construction of the hydrogen infrastructure. The hydrogen production facility was built within a period of eleven months on a 280-square-meter area conveniently positioned within the manufacturing and assembly plant. Around 50 subcontractors were involved in building the hydrogen infrastructure under the direction of general contractor Covalion, a Framatome brand, and Linde Material Handling’s construction department.

“With the commissioning of the facility and forklifts, we ourselves are becoming hydrogen producers and users and will thus be able to further expand our technological expertise. This will eventually also benefit our customers because the experience we gain in planning, building and operating the plant and using the fuel cell forklifts will be passed on to them as part of future material flow projects,” stated Prokosch. At the same time, the decentralized on-site hydrogen infrastructure will serve as a showcase for other interested groups. “We will be demonstrating how the use of renewable energy sources can work in practice,” the brand manager added.

Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, CEO and spokesman of NOW GmbH: “Lighthouse projects like this one undertaken by Linde Material Handling are of great importance for the further ramp-up of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. They demonstrate what is already possible in the area of intralogistics and they make it clear that the transformation towards climate neutrality has gained momentum in the non-road sector as well. Companies that are leading the way in this regard and sharing their experience in networks such as the Clean Intralogistics Net are already benefiting today, ensuring their success far beyond tomorrow.”

Michael Kraus, project manager at Framatome (Covalion): “The project was a challenge, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate our skills and expertise. Planning the project and building the facility took a total of about three years – and we were able to accompany Linde Material Handling from our very first meeting to the approval process and the first fuelling of the industrial trucks. We worked closely with the project management team to meet the specific individual requirements of the project and find the best possible solution.”

State-of-the-art technology in inconspicuous containers

The components of the hydrogen infrastructure comprise several modules. The centrepiece is a PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) electrolyzer, which is set to produce 50 kg of hydrogen per day. Here, purified and deionized drinking water is separated into oxygen and hydrogen with the help of green electricity. In another container, the hydrogen is gradually compressed to 450 bar and then fed into high-pressure storage tanks via piping and valves. A software-controlled valve system regulates the supply line to the dispenser, the gas pump. Here, employees can connect their vehicles in just a few simple steps. The refuelling process is completed within just a short time. The high-pressure storage tank is designed to store up to 120 kg of hydrogen at 450 bar so that even peak demand caused by increased refuelling processes at shift changes can be covered.

A total of 21 electric counterbalanced trucks with fuel cell hybrid systems, which comprise twelve Linde E50s with a load capacity of five tons and nine Linde E35s with 3.5 tons load capacity, replaced the previously used IC models. As part of the plant fleet, they are used for loading and unloading trucks and supplying the assembly lines with large and heavy components such as counterweights, pre-assembled frames or driver cabs, among other things. “The vehicles do not produce any emissions during operation,” Prokosch emphasizes. Hydrogen and oxygen in the ambient air react in the industrial trucks’ fuel cell system. The electrical energy generated charges a lithium-ion battery that powers the forklift; water and heat result as the only ‘by-products’.

The generation and use of hydrogen takes place directly where intralogistics operations are carried out. In addition to Linde forklifts, other technical solutions offered by the company are used as well. For example, the explosion-proof access control system of the Linde:connect fleet management solution ensures that only authorized and trained persons can use the hydrogen facility. Furthermore, the explosion-proof “Safety Guard” assistance solution at the dispenser and in the vehicles automatically reduces the driving speed in the vicinity of the filling station. Last, but not least, the ‘Linde Energy Manager’ solution enables the intelligent planning and control of energy demands throughout the site, thus avoiding power load peaks and allowing for cost optimization.

Hydrogen technology made by Linde MH

Linde MH is considered one of the pioneers in the use of hydrogen in intralogistics, having developed the first fully operational prototype forklift with fuel cell drive as early as 2000. Since 2010, fuel cell forklifts have been integrated into the company’s series production, and as of today, 80 percent of the series, including counterbalanced forklifts, tow tractors and pallet stackers, can be ordered with this energy option as a ‘customized solution’ with hydrogen drive. In numerous studies and projects, Linde MH and its partners from industry and science have demonstrated the conditions under which fuel cell forklifts are marketable and economical today. This is the case especially if a hydrogen infrastructure is already available on site or if highly pure hydrogen is produced as a waste product in the operational process. Fuel cell forklifts are also suitable for multi-shift operation entailing intensive use and a high number of annual operating hours indoors, or where there is limited space for charging or battery changing facilities, which are ultimately intended to be eliminated.

Along with the construction of Linde MH’s hydrogen infrastructure in Aschaffenburg, parent company KION GROUP AG is pressing ahead with the development and production of its own fuel cell systems. At the LogiMAT trade fair, Linde MH presented its first own 24-volt system for warehouse equipment, which was developed at the Aschaffenburg site. An approved funding decision has already been received for the development of a 48-volt fuel cell system, and the team is working on rapid implementation. “By bringing the development of fuel cell systems and lithium-ion batteries in-house, we will also have the opportunity in the future to design our own fully integrated fuel cell hybrid systems that are precisely tailored to the requirements of material handling equipment,” outlined Prokosch.

Charge Management Controls Energy Costs

Posted on by David Priestman

The new “connect:charger” module as part of Linde Material Handling’s (MH) fleet management solution makes the charging processes of battery-powered industrial trucks transparent and reduces electricity costs while maintaining consistent, high vehicle availability through prioritization, defined charging time slots and power limits. Suitable for use across industries, the quick-to-install software and hardware solution proves its worth even with small fleets and will be launched in time for the LogiMAT trade show.

“Peak demands in energy are among the main causes of skyrocketing costs when it comes to operating electric industrial trucks,” says Stefan Roth, Product Manager Energy Systems at Linde Material Handling. Operators of forklift trucks and warehouse equipment powered by lithium-ion batteries are especially likely to experience this because part of the concept with these applications is to charge the batteries regularly during the day in order to continuously extend their runtime. However, if too many employees connect their electric vehicles to the chargers at the same time, for example during breaks or after the end of the work shift, the power demand increases rapidly. In the case of lithium-ion batteries, this is compounded by the fact that fast charging is associated with significantly higher power demand than with the lead-acid variant.

“As the number of consumers increases, so does the risk that peaks in power consumption will occur,” Roth points out. “These short-term peaks can lead to permanent cost increases if the electricity tariff is linked to compliance with certain limit values,” he adds. But even if there are no limit values involved, with larger fleets it can be difficult to decide when to charge which vehicles in order to ensure their availability or to move charging to daytimes when electricity rates are cheaper. “All these requirements can be handled quickly and easily when using our digital charge management system, connect:charger,” explains Stefan Roth.

Intelligent charging

To do this, the new Linde system links up to 50 chargers in a network with a central hardware unit, which automatically controls the power demand according to predefined rules. Additionally, a dashboard allows forklift drivers and fleet operators to retrieve all the relevant information. For example, they can see when a particular industrial truck is ready for use again or how much energy the individual chargers have consumed over the course of the day. The dashboard also allows settings to be made with just a few clicks to adapt the charging behaviour to operational requirements. “Fixed charging times or maximum power levels can be defined. It is also possible for fleet operators to give individual chargers priority over others, for example, if a vehicle’s battery charge is below 50 percent,” explains product expert Roth. The intelligent charge management algorithm coordinates the various specifications and allocates appropriate capacities to the chargers.

There are two options as regards data transmission from the chargers to the control unit: Initially available at the market launch will be the wired solution (for up to 50 chargers). However, a wireless version will also be on offer shortly. Furthermore, there are plans to integrate additional software functions ranging from dynamic charge management and a cloud-based application to the integration of the charge management solution into a holistic energy management solution. The Linde connect:charger module can also be retrofitted, provided the charging devices feature an integrated interface (from year of manufacture 2018).

High Performer in High-rack Warehouses

Posted on by David Priestman

Soon to be launched on the market, the Linde V modular is a new, powerful player for high-rack warehouses. The truck offers a load capacity of 1.2 tons and is an ideal option for warehouse operators who aim for even more effective goods picking on various different racking levels. Some of its key features includes the ability to reach picking heights of up to 14.5 meters, a visibility-optimized triplex mast with or without free lift, a comfortable driver’s cab, and a high level of safety thanks to improved stability, a new type of Linde personal protection system, and special lighting solutions. Another advantage is its design as a modular system and the large number of variants and equipment options available. The chassis, mast and cab can be perfectly customized to application-specific requirements. The new trucks will be launched for sale at the LogiMAT trade show in Stuttgart at the end of April.

With increasing frequency, both large and small high-rack warehouses are reaching their capacity limits: “Online retailing demands high goods availability and fast deliveries,” says Anna Keilbach, Senior Product Manager for VNA Trucks and Vertical Order Pickers, explaining one of the reasons for the larger inventory. Another aspect is the desire for greater individualization and the associated growing number of product designs. However, as more storage space becomes needed, many operators prefer to increase the height of their racking systems instead of building new warehouses due to the high cost of floor space – especially in metropolitan areas. “As a consequence, this requires vertical order pickers with conducive working heights and performance capability,” the product manager states.

Performance makes the difference

The new Linde V modular is designed to meet precisely these requirements. For the first time, drivers will be able to reach picking heights of up to 14.5 meters from the platform – 2.5 meters more than before. In addition, the new truck offers a 22 percent increase in lifting speed and a 20 percent faster lowering speed – resulting in time savings when raising or lowering the cab, which has a positive impact on productivity. To meet the varying conditions in the warehouse, the triplex mast is available in two versions: The mast featuring a free lift is suitable for warehouses with diverse ceiling heights. Two lateral lifting cylinders instead of one centrally positioned lifting cylinder ensure optimized visibility. In the variant without a free lift, the mast extends faster because there are no deceleration phases during mast transitions. Added to this is the very good mast visibility provided by the design.

New features for enhanced safety

Along with the Linde V modular, Linde MH is going to launch its own personal protection system (PPS), which will be used in all VNA equipment from Linde MH in the future. The new Linde PPS meets all the requirements of DIN standard 15185-2, which prohibits the simultaneous presence of people and vehicles in narrow aisles and prescribes special protective measures in the event that this should happen accidentally nevertheless. Equipped with a laser scanner at the front between the load wheels and at the rear on the drive side, the Linde PPS detects people in a protective zone of up to nine meters. As soon as a person enters the area monitored by the scanner, an alarm sounds and the vehicle comes to a safe stop. Additional warning fields ensure that the order picker’s speed is reduced even before the protective zone is reached, so as to enable the smoothest possible braking process. In the transfer aisle, the Linde V modular can be operated alongside other vehicles due to its safety equipment. Here, the warning fields of the laser scanners provide assistance as well by throttling the travel speed when obstacles appear.

LED stripes provide even better visibility for the vehicles. Located at the front and rear of the lift mast, they ensure optimum distribution of light at close range. In the direction of travel, the stripes emit white light; at the rear, they shine red. Pedestrians and other forklift drivers can thus see from a distance in which direction the truck is moving.

User-friendliness is a top priority

It’s no secret that picking goods is one of the most physically demanding jobs in the warehouse environment. The Linde V modular effectively supports the picker in this regard by means of various features. First and foremost: the spacious driver’s cab, which allows plenty of freedom of movement. Added to this is the soft floor mat, which cushions vibrations and prevents fatigue. The ergonomic control panel can be mounted on the load side, the mast side or on both sides. Recently, this choice has also been extended to the positioning of the color display, which shows the driver all relevant information. This includes speed, lift height, residual capacity and steering angle, as well as other information from optional features such as Linde’s warehouse navigation system. Optionally available tilting barriers give the driver 50cms of additional reach when retrieving goods from the rack. The auxiliary lift function is another helpful feature: At the push of a button, the forks move down a defined distance so that the driver can deposit the packs of goods retrieved from the rack as easily as possible.

Solutions Benefit Climate, Handling Performance

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) is supporting its customers on their path to a more sustainable future, providing innovative products and software solutions as well as a range of precisely tailored services. The focus is on the goal of reducing CO2 emissions, saving energy and cutting operating costs while maintaining high handling performance. The various offerings in this regard are subsumed under the motto “Green Performance”. Measures range from high-performance truck models with lithium-ion batteries and the first fuel cell developed in Aschaffenburg all the way to battery charging and energy management solutions, HVO fuels, software-supported consulting services and battery recycling.

“The search for cost-effective, climate-friendly energy solutions presents our customers with major challenges,” says Stefan Prokosch, Senior Vice President Brand Management at Linde Material Handling – an insight he gained from numerous discussions with industrial truck operators and network partners. Forklift trucks and warehouse equipment are expected to make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse emissions, while at the same time continuing to deliver their usual high performance and providing cost savings wherever possible.

Linde MH has taken a first major step in this direction with its latest truck generation: For the first time, Linde X electric forklift models are now on a par with their IC-powered counterparts, even when it comes to demanding outdoor applications, and they combine the advantages of both drive options. Emission-free in operation, potentially climate-neutral, ergonomic, quiet and easy to service, these trucks with lithium-ion batteries are the perfect alternative to diesel or LPG powered forklifts. From April 2023, when the next larger series is set to be launched on the market, these advantages will no longer be limited to trucks with 2 to 3.5 tons of load capacity but will also be available for the 3.5 to 5 ton capacity range. The fact that Linde MH is serious about switching to clean electric trucks was already demonstrated last year when the manufacturer electrified its heavy-duty trucks in the load capacity range of 10 to 18 tons. Thus, an electric drive variant is now available for all Linde truck models. Linde MH has also taken another important step forward in terms of battery recycling. In the future, a strategic cooperation with the company Li-Cycle will ensure the environmentally friendly recovery of materials for all lithium-ion batteries delivered. “Linde MH customers can rest assured that the batteries will be recycled at the end of their useful life in such a way as to ensure that up to 95 percent of the raw materials will be recovered and returned to the material cycle,” Prokosch explains.

Hydrogen is also gaining in importance as another viable type of energy. This is because it can also potentially be obtained from regenerative sources such as the sun, wind or water and is therefore sustainable. At the LogiMAT trade fair in Stuttgart, Linde MH will be presenting its first own self-manufactured fuel cell system. Once launched on the market, the stacks with 24 volts of voltage and 1.8 kW of power will be used in order pickers and tow tractors, and in the future, they will also be used in Linde brand pallet trucks and double stackers. “With Linde HyPower, we have developed an exceptionally robust, powerful and user-friendly fuel cell system and can now offer our customers in the warehouse equipment segment a complete ‘one stop shop’ solution consisting of vehicles, fuel cell systems and servicing,” announces Linde MH’s top brand manager. Hydrogen-powered forklifts are particularly impressive due to their short refuelling times, their suitability for both indoor and outdoor use, and the fact that they are emission-free. The vehicles bring their advantages to bear particularly in multi-shift operation entailing many operating hours.

“For those customers who, for various reasons, continue to prefer diesel trucks, we offer an option in the form of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which enables them to reduce the CO2 emissions of their vehicles by up to 90 percent,” Prokosch points out.

However, the claim of “Green Performance” does not refer exclusively to products. Software solutions and consulting services make their contribution as well. For example, the intelligent battery charge management system Linde connect:charger helps customers to avoid peak demand in energy and to adjust the charging strategy according to the specific situation – always with the goal of optimizing energy consumption and energy costs while maximizing equipment availability and making the best possible use of renewable energies. The company-wide integration of all energy-relevant aspects succeeds thanks to the Linde Energy Manager. “Determining energy consumption in advance, taking into account all producers and consumers, and planning energy purchases helps to achieve a reduction in both CO2 emissions and energy costs,” summarizes Stefan Prokosch.

Mounting Solutions Provider at LogiMAT

Posted on by David Priestman

Havis, a global provider of technology mobility and mounting solutions, is exhibiting at LogiMAT 2023 at Booth G32 in Hall 4, where visitors can discover its expansive range of industry-leading solutions for transportation & logistics, warehouse & distribution and more.

As a long-standing strategic partner of leading technology providers such as Zebra, Panasonic, Dell and Getac, Havis boasts an impressive range of technology mounting, docking and charging solutions. From the kerbside and front of store to the warehouse and last mile, Havis solutions enable the technology to keep businesses moving forward.

At Booth G32, Havis is offering an exclusive first look at its new MD-501-K Rugged Mounting Solution. With a lightweight, durable design, Havis says the MD-501-K is extremely versatile and allows for multiple mounting configurations. The MD-501-K features easy-to-use knobs that allow the user to adjust the mount quickly and easily with no tools required. Havis believes this feature is a game-changer for the warehousing, material handling & logistics industries, making it faster and simpler than ever before to customise a device and keep it securely mounted in any position.

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New era for Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Posted on by David Priestman

Yale Materials Handling has changed its brand name to Yale® Lift Truck Technologies. The rebranding reflects the Company’s emphasis on technology-enabled lift trucks for warehouse and intralogistics operations, delivered through a strong network of independent Dealers.

The rebrand highlights how Yale is responding to ever changing market conditions and demands; whilst emphasising its strengths in providing solutions for customers’ needs. The materials handling landscape is changing. So are its challenges. There are increasing demands for shorter delivery times and flexible, high-quality service. Europe is the biggest intralogistics market in the world and is expected to see an unprecedented level of expansion and innovation. Fast adoption will be key. From labour shortages to safety and sustainability goals, Yale is committed to providing solutions in the intralogistics and warehouse space.

“The new Yale positioning is built around three pillars” said Robert O’Donoghue, Vice President Marketing and Solutions EMEA from Yale Lift Truck Technologies. “The first is our smart design philosophy which is all about putting the customer first. Second, is our focus on Technology Integration. We’re not just keeping up; we’re leading the way. Third, is our dealer partners, who create long-lasting, successful relationships with customers”.

The new brand name is founded on a 100-year heritage designing and manufacturing lift truck technologies which keep evolving to meet the challenges facing today’s industries.
With its Dealer Partners, Yale focuses on customer success in the fast-changing intralogistics market.

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