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Tag: Linde

End-to-end Automation with New Forklifts

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) has expanded its range of automated forklift and industrial trucks, thus completing its updated product portfolio. A standout addition to the lineup is the automated Linde K MATIC k VNA turret truck.

“If customers are storing and retrieving exclusively full pallets in high-bay racking, this forklift eliminates the need for them to purchase a manually operated truck,” explains Pascal Kuster, Sales Trainer Automated Guided Vehicles at Linde MH. Other vehicles set to launch include the Linde R-MATIC k reach truck and the Linde L MATIC AC k counterbalanced pallet stacker with cantilevered forks. These series production models are designed to maximize the benefits of automation projects implemented with Linde MH, reducing planning and implementation times while ensuring greater efficiency and lower costs.

“With the new models, the already launched automated Linde L-MATIC HD k pallet stacker, and the fully automated compact Linde L-MATIC core variant, we can automate our customers’ material flow processes more easily and cost-effectively, while also making them more service-friendly and flexible for expansion,” says Kuster. The ‘toolbox’ that Linde MH’s automation planners use to develop these concepts includes high-quality, energy-efficient and easy-to-program AGVs and AMRs. “Our new vehicles play a key role in our automation solutions. However, good project planning and preparation are just as crucial to success,” Kuster emphasizes. “After all, our customers are investing in a solution, rather than just a product.” The standardization of processes is an essential prerequisite for any automation project. In this context, it’s important to note that processes with manual trucks cannot always be replicated one-to-one with the corresponding automated vehicle models. For example: If a reach truck operator was previously also responsible for transporting goods from the receiving area to the high-bay racking, in the automated system using an automated pallet stacker for this subprocess may be more efficient in order to increase throughput and optimize pallet-handling costs per hour.

A new generation of vehicles for efficient automation

The larger the product portfolio, the more options arise for developing automation solutions that are precisely tailored to customers’ specific needs. Linde MH capitalizes on this by offering the industry’s most comprehensive range of vehicles. The Linde K-MATIC k stands out in the premier league of warehouse technology. With a load capacity of 1.5 tons and a maximum lift height of 14.5 meters, this very narrow aisle (VNA) truck is designed to optimize warehouse capacity usage. “Since the truck primarily operates in rack aisles, using an automated vehicle is a sensible choice,” explains product trainer Kuster. “This allows employees to focus on higher value-added activities.”

The Linde R-MATIC k reach truck is ideal for automated replenishment in wide-aisle warehouse sections. Three models are available, with load capacities of up to 2.3 tons. To optimally customize the trucks for individual needs, they can be equipped with a wide selection of modular mast variants, offering maximum lift heights of up to 10 meters. Automated shuttle and storage solutions round off the extended range of vehicles.

Innovative technology boosts productivity

Both VNA trucks and reach trucks use state-of-the-art reflector technology for navigation. They feature a sensor-based pallet positioning system with “intelligent” forks for precisely storing and retrieving qualified load carriers such as Euro pallets, mesh boxes and CHEP pallets. The system not only detects whether a rack location is empty but also identifies any obstacles in the way. If pallets are not correctly aligned, the forks adjust accordingly. Furthermore, the system ensures that the goods are precisely positioned in the rack before the forks withdraw from the load carrier. The trucks are powered by either lead-acid batteries or the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries for maximum energy efficiency. Both battery types can be combined with all available manual or automatic charging options. A clear, colored touchscreen simplifies human-machine communication and makes entering control commands easier. Numerous standard features such as 360° scanners, emergency stop switches, lights and acoustic signals ensure maximum operational safety. Optional functions are available to supplement these features, including 2D curtain lasers and other lighting solutions such as BlueSpot and Red Warning Lines.

Integrated software platform MATIC:move

All new vehicles have been developed in-house and are designed to map key intralogistics processes end-to-end. VNA trucks and reach trucks are digitally networked with the pallet stacker variants. Automated trucks are controlled via the Linde MATIC:move (or MATIC:move+) software platform’s uniform user interface, which allows for real-time monitoring, display of open orders, predictive maintenance and standardized connection to WMS and ERP systems. Additionally, the Linde Warehouse Manager facilitates the networking of automated and manual vehicles and their integration into operational safety assistance systems such as the Linde Safety Guard. “However, cooperation with our customers is a key factor for success,” emphasizes Kuster. “We provide comprehensive support to decision-makers throughout the entire process, from the conceptualization phase through implementation. We assist in standardizing processes, defining key performance indicators and simulating material flow with the help of our digital twin. This approach ensures a solid foundation for successful project completion and a swift return on investment. And after commissioning, our experienced service technicians and the high density of our sales and service network ensure that customers can rely on fast response times for maintenance and repairs.”

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Forklifts Still Matter

Posted on by Peter MacLeod

As Linde MH reinvents the role of the forklift to best service a smart, automated world, Peter MacLeod spoke to two of its senior managers to scratch further below the surface.

At LogiMAT 2025, Linde Material Handling’s shift from forklift manufacturer to strategic intralogistics partner was clear. I sat down with two of its senior leaders, Ulrike Just (Executive Vice President Sales & Service, EMEA) and Torsten Rochelmeyer (Senior Director Strategy & Solution Portfolio), to explore how Linde is helping customers navigate today’s operational challenges – and to have an educated guess at what the warehouse of the future might look like.

Changing Landscape

When I visited Linde’s Aschaffenburg facility last autumn, the company had just unveiled its new three- and four-wheel electric forklift trucks up to 2.0 tonnes. While these trucks remain essential to warehouse operations, their role is evolving. At LogiMAT, forklifts were present but were not necessarily the focal point. That’s no accident, as Just explains: “Our customers aren’t just looking for equipment – they want a “sparring partner”. Someone who helps them optimise logistics processes, understands digitalisation, energy, safety, and can guide them toward automation.”
Rochelmeyer agrees: “The forklift is just one piece of the puzzle. Customers need help optimising entire systems under increasing cost pressure. That includes safety, data, and energy management.”

Linde’s shift from product supplier to holistic intralogistics advisor is deliberate. The company is leveraging its vast sales and service footprint to deliver scalable, integrated solutions across borders. “We’ve seen huge growth through our international key accounts,” says Just. “We’re unique in being able to offer customers a single point of contact for managing a global fleet. Our main competitor, Toyota, has the footprint, but we provide the network depth and advisory capabilities smaller players can’t match.”

One surprising takeaway is that many large customers don’t even know how many forklifts they operate. “We help them get control of that,” Just says. “It’s about fleet transparency and performance optimisation.”

Automation and Digitalisation

Warehousing is Linde’s fastest-growing vertical, particularly in automation. “We see major growth potential in automation, complex energy and safety solutions, and digitalisation,” says Just.
With partners Nvidia and Accenture, Linde is taking AI integration to a new level. “We’re developing physical AI for AGVs so they can react in real time. For instance, AGVs will soon be able to retrieve pallets even if they’re not perfectly placed, which will be a massive efficiency gain,” Just explains.

The second focus is a digital twin of the warehouse, created through sensors that allow for simulation and optimisation of layouts and flows before any physical changes are made. Rochelmeyer highlighted how critical this is for brownfield sites: “Not every customer is ready to invest €30 million in a new warehouse. But many can deploy five AGVs to improve one process. With Nvidia’s Omniverse, they can simulate changes in real time and test outcomes in 3D.”

Sustainability in Action

Linde’s sustainability efforts are twofold: helping customers reduce emissions, while decarbonising its own operations. Its fleet management software, myLinde, works with its connect:charger to monitor energy usage, optimise charging, and reduce carbon output. “Customers can track how much CO₂ they’re saving and report on sustainability improvements to their own stakeholders,” Rochelmeyer tells me.

Within its own facilities, Linde has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, with a 40% reduction target by 2030. This commitment was recently recognised with an EcoVadis sustainability award.
“We’ve joined the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI) and have tailored decarbonisation strategies for each plant,” Just says. “That includes switching to green energy, even though it costs more, and building hydrogen infrastructure.”

Linde even powers its internal logistics with hydrogen trucks. “We have hydrogen forklifts moving masts from fabrication to assembly inside our own facility,” added Rochelmeyer.

Hydrogen: Not Yet Mainstream

Hydrogen fuel cells remain an intriguing – but not yet commercially widespread – alternative to battery electric. Linde is ready for it, though: all new forklifts are fuel-cell compatible. “Today, hydrogen demand is mostly driven by pilot projects with OEMs like BMW and Daimler,” says Rochelmeyer. “The business case isn’t quite there for broader adoption due to high infrastructure costs. But when the time comes, we’ll be ready.”

Government support and regional policy will play a key role in speeding up adoption. “Some regions are already more advanced. It’s about timing; too early and it’s costly, too late and you miss the boat,” he adds.

Forklift of the Future

What will a forklift truck look like in 2035? That depends on who you ask, but both leaders agree on one thing: the operator’s role is changing.

“There are two paths,” says Rochelmeyer. “In one, the driver becomes more like a pilot – monitoring rather than operating. Or they may be remotely controlling the vehicle from an office.”
But traditional forklifts won’t disappear. “We’re not like automotive – our sector evolves more slowly, and regional differences are big. Forklifts will still exist, just smarter, safer, and more efficient.”
Just adds with a smile: “Maybe a humanoid robot will replace the driver. You never know.”

Turning Data into Operational Gold

At the core of Linde’s digital push is its new customer portal, myLinde. “It’s more than fleet management, it’s a central cloud platform where customers can track safety, energy, and usage data,” explains Rochelmeyer.

This transparency opens up new optimisation paths: smarter routing, predictive maintenance, energy cost reduction, even fewer trucks. “It’s not about steel and iron anymore. It’s about data.”
Linde Material Handling may still be synonymous with forklifts, but it’s rapidly becoming known for its digital and automation expertise. Whether customers are trying to reduce their energy bills, optimise brownfield processes, or simulate a new warehouse in the metaverse, Linde is positioning itself not just as a supplier, but as a strategic global logistics partner for a fast-changing world.

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[Podcast] Safety First: How to ensure Safety in Intralogistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Warehouse safety is a growing concern, with thousands of industrial truck accidents reported annually—many happening while reversing. In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, experts Elke Karnarski and Fabian Zimmermann from Linde Material Handling break down the biggest safety risks in warehouses and Intralogistics and what can be done to prevent them.

From AI-powered cameras that detect pedestrians to speed control zones and real-time monitoring, we reveal the latest innovations designed to cut down on injuries and fatalities. Plus, why investing in safety now saves companies thousands in the long run. Tune in to find out what’s really happening behind warehouse doors—and how to stay ahead of the risks.

Fabian and Elke from Linde Material Handling - Intralogistics Safety

One of the most shocking insights? Even food warehouses can be high-risk zones for explosions, requiring specialized, explosion-proof forklifts to prevent disaster. Meanwhile, AI-driven safety tech is making waves, with Reverse Assist Cameras and wearable pedestrian detection helping to reduce collisions in busy warehouse environments. As speed-related accidents rise, smart Speed Control Zones are balancing safety with productivity. And with major players like Nvidia stepping into warehouse safety, the future of logistics is getting smarter—and safer.

Are warehouses doing enough to prevent accidents? Listen now to find out what’s really happening behind the scenes—and how to stay ahead of the risks.

Click here to listen to this episode and more

Intelligent Forklifts Purchased to Improve Safety

Posted on by David Priestman

Junction 4 Pallets has bought two new Linde Evo H20 forklifts to add to its fleet. These trucks sustainably improve operational efficiency and delivery times for customers. Forklift trucks are used by J4 to handle materials and load trailers on site.

Craig Bushby, J4’s Environmental Guidance and Development Lead, explained that the move to upgrade forklifts was part of J4’s ongoing sustainability drive:

“As part of our initiatives towards improved safety and sustainability, the business has invested heavily, over the past years, in environmental developments. We have fitted solar panels on to our main production facility in Doncaster, generating clean energy to power manufacturing equipment within the production process. The latest Linde forklift trucks use hydrostatic drives, which typically generate 40 to 50% more hydraulic fluid power than standard forklift trucks. Another significant benefit of switching to Linde trucks is the Linde Connect app. Devices are fitted on to the trucks and the app allows us to track how economically they’re being driven. We can track the number of lifts to complete a job so it becomes a more intelligent model, where you can make decisions based on data, not guesswork. This allows us to deliver to customers efficiently.”

Not only are the new Linde Evo H20 forklifts more environmentally friendly, but Bushby says that they are also safer for employees to use. “Their enhanced LED lighting means we can continue to operate safely outside of daylight hours, as we respond to customer requests for evening and nighttime deliveries, reducing daytime congestion in our 24-hour, multi-site operation.”

Linde Material Handling area account manager for Doncaster, Jay Dixon, adds: “Linde and I have worked in partnership with Junction 4 Pallets for several years and in this time, we have collaborated extremely well. Having spent time with the J4 site team, we gained mass amounts of information which gave us a true understanding of how Junction 4 Pallets work. We offered a bespoke solution, tailored to meet the needs of J4’s current demands and future growth plans, which are well underway!”

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Compact helpers for storing and transporting goods

Posted on by David Priestman

Linde Material Handling is making it easier to maneuver in confined spaces in logistics, retail and production with new compact double stackers and a pallet truck. All vehicles are optionally equipped with an active foot protection guard to prevent injuries. The pallet truck offers an ergonomic lift for order picking that is gentle on the back and knees.

“In settings such as supermarkets, warehouses or production environments, space is almost always an issue. The compact design of the new Linde double stackers offers a significant advantage for short- to medium-distance transportation, as well as for tasks such as truck loading and unloading, order picking, and the restocking of supermarket shelves,” says Marc Castro, Senior Strategy and Portfolio Manager for Warehouse Trucks at Linde Material Handling.

The Linde D06 to D10 models, which can simultaneously move loads of 0.6, 0.8 or 1.0 tons on the free lift and an additional 1.0 ton on the initial lift, are available with different battery versions to suit specific requirements. In versions equipped with a compact lithium-ion battery, the distance between the chassis and fork face (l2 dimension) is notably reduced: The Linde D06 has a length of just 592 mm. The latest addition to the range is the Linde D08 M double stacker with a mono-mast. This model offers a load capacity of 0.8 tons on the free lift and 1.0 tons on the initial lift, with a lift height of 1,590 mm. Its compact design, enabled by the inclusion of a compact lithium-ion battery, makes it an ideal choice for settings such as retail environ­ments, where it can be used for transporting goods from the storage area to the sales floor and for stocking shelves. The mono-mast provides an extended view of the load and the truck’s surroundings, enabling the driver to work more efficiently and safely. All vehicles in the new double stacker series feature a five-point contact configuration with a centered drive wheel, ensuring optimal stability when driving over uneven ground or ramps. The special Linde OptiLift mast control allows operators to precisely control the lifting speed via a lever on the tiller head.

Pallet truck model designed with a special focus on ergonomics

Stacker

The new pedestrian pallet truck Linde T16 L has been developed to improve comfort when picking orders in e-commerce or when restocking shelves in supermarkets. The ergonomic lift is designed specifically with these requirements in mind. Controls on the tiller and on the sides of the truck allow the forks to be raised to a maximum working height of 675 millimeters, enabling the operator to place the goods on the truck in a position that is gentle on the back.

Both the double stackers and the pallet truck are extremely compact, measuring only 1,742 mm in length (l1 dimension) and 720 mm in width. This makes them even more maneuverable than their predecessors. The vehicles are available with either lithium-ion or lead-acid battery power options. The lithium-ion batteries, in turn, are offered tray based or as compact version, the latter allowing for a particularly compact truck design. The powerful drive motor provides ample power and provides up to 20 percent climbing ability. The latest addition to the safety features is the optional active foot protection guard. It senses contact and automatically stops or stops and reverses the truck. Standard features include the low chassis skirt, which prevents the operator’s feet from being trapped under the truck, and the low-set tiller arm, which ensures that the operator is at a safe distance from the truck. For added convenience, the autolift function is available. This equipment option automatically lowers the forks during loading or automatically lifts the forks when removing parcels from the pallet on the forks, thus saving the operator time. 

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Kion and Eurofork Sign Strategic Partnership

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The KION Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Eurofork S.p.A., a leading manufacturer of pallet shuttle systems. The two companies have signed a cooperation agreement at KION GROUP AG headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Under the agreement, Eurofork’s E4CUBE® solution will be distributed through the sales and service networks of the KION brands in the Industrial Trucks & Services segment in the EMEA region with immediate effect.

Andreas Schneider, Senior Vice President Product Management at KION, said: “We are very pleased to enter this strategic partnership with Eurofork, one of the leading players in the market for pallet shuttles. This will enable us to offer our customers an even more comprehensive product portfolio of automated solutions and further strengthen our position.”

Pallet shuttle systems are an efficient form of storage with high flexibility, continuous material flow and high throughput rates. Automated shuttles travel independently on rail systems through the racks and transport palletized goods to the picking station. E4CUBE® can be easily configured with standard modules for individual customer solutions and is operational within a few months. In addition, the system ensures the traceability of goods and offers a high level of operational safety.

Maurizio Traversa, CEO of Eurofork, said: “We are proud to enter this strategic partnership agreement, which marks a new high of our long-standing cooperation with the KION Group. Our pallet shuttle automation adds substantial value for customers and having KION teaming up with us for the distribution of the E4CUBE® will enable access to easy automation for a wide array of companies. This solution delivers value without unnecessary complexity, including from a financial perspective, thanks to our partner’s leasing solutions.”

Eurofork was founded in 2000 in Roletto near Turin, Northwest Italy. The company specializes in the production of material handling devices such as pallet shuttle systems and telescopic forks made in Italy. Thanks to their quality and efficiency, Eurofork products and solutions are used worldwide in the field of industrial automation and intralogistics.

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KION opens Centre of Excellence for Automated Solutions

Posted on by David Priestman

The KION Group has opened the KION Automation Centre Antwerp in Belgium, a Centre of Excellence facility for automated solutions in EMEA. It is the first of its kind and now the primary hub for research and development, testing and customized production of automated solutions in EMEA. Employees from the KION brands will now work and collaborate on automation projects and individual customer requirements.

“Automation is the future for our industry, so I’m very excited about the new facility,” says Ching Pong Quek, member of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer of KION GROUP AG. “By bringing various capacities under one roof, we can now respond to market needs and deliver automation projects faster, more innovatively and cost-effectively. The teams design the right automation solutions for our customers and support our regional sales teams.” The new building allows new solutions to be tested and optimized on site and requirements to be addressed individually and quickly. “The Centre of Excellence will enable intensive collaboration across businesses with the aim of serving our customers even better”, says Quek.

Approximately 400 employees with diverse professional backgrounds and 40 nationalities are working at the KION Automation Centre Antwerp. The 11,800-square meter building is well equipped for collaborative work, with a flexible office concept encouraging creative thinking, learning, testing, and training. The building is located near the port of Antwerp in an industrial area that is set to grow and develop further in the coming years.

Cross-departmental collaboration an important success factor at new site

The employees who used to work in the two rented locations in Antwerp and Zwijndrecht have now moved into the new automation centre. It shortens distances and promotes cross-departmental team collaboration. One of the teams is KION subsidiary, automation and software specialist Dematic, which has vacated its previous offices and moved less than 100 meters away to the new building. The team provides centralized services on automated solutions for customers across Europe.

In addition to Dematic, other operating units of the KION Group are also based in the new building. One of them is KION Industrial Trucks and Services (ITS) EMEA, where a team handles customer projects from planning to delivery, including training sessions conducted in the office and test floors. They also focus on the testing and development of custom hardware and software solutions, as well as the production of customized solutions, particularly for industrial vehicles.

Robotic system development will play a major role in the new Centre of Excellence for Automation. The mission of the team is to deliver intelligent, driverless and interoperable robotic products, solutions and services that are easy to deploy, operate, maintain and support throughout their lifecycle in brownfield applications.

Building design focuses on solutions that support sustainability

The KION Automation Centre Antwerp features modern standards of sustainable design, such as advanced insulation, solar panels and a green roof. The goal is to achieve BREEAM sustainable building certification, which is based on a holistic approach to achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG), health and net-zero goals. From energy to ecology, a BREEAM assessment uses recognized performance measures against established benchmarks to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use.

In addition, the KION Group is working closely with the European agency Encon to obtain a WELL Gold certificate from the US-based international WELL Building Institute. The WELL Building Standard is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring building characteristics that affect the health and well-being of occupants.

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Versatile Pallet Stackers for Warehouses

Posted on by Keith McKinley

With the Linde L10 – L16 B pallet stacker, Linde Material Handling (MH) is launching a new, extremely compact pedestrian truck. Offering load capacities of 1.0 to 1.6 tons and lift heights of up to 5.47 meters, the models are designed for a very wide range of handling tasks in warehouses and production environments. Their compact design also makes them ideal helpers when it comes to handling goods in narrow aisles and loading zones. Two other models are capable of moving pallets with closed bases and various types of small containers.

“Hardly any other product group in the warehouse equipment segment is as versatile as the manual electric pallet stackers,” says Marc Castro, Portfolio Manager Warehouse Trucks at Linde Material Handling. These proven all-rounders cover a wide range of warehouse applications: They stack and move pallets in staging areas and in buffer zones and transport materials to production lines, they store and retrieve goods and help with replenishment in supermarkets, and they can also be used as work bench. Whatever the application, the manoeuvrability of the vehicles is critical because space is almost always an issue – whether in marshalling areas, in narrow aisles or at the assembly line. “Each centimeter reduction in truck length helps the driver get the load to its destination more quickly and safely,” explains product expert Castro.

Flexible application options

For this reason, special attention was paid to the dimensions of the Linde electric pallet stacker series. “They are among the most compact models in the entire competitive environment,” emphasizes Castro. The shortest version of the Linde L10 B, equipped with an integrated lithium-ion battery and a simplex mast, measures just 568 millimeters from the chassis to the fork carriage (l2 dimension), with a turning radius of 1,420 millimeters. The model series is also available with a battery tray and lead-acid batteries with rated capacities of 200Ah and 250Ah as well as lithium-ion batteries with capacities from 3kWh to 6kWh. In addition to a variety of different chargers, the vehicles can optionally be equipped with an integrated charger, which enables intermediate charging at any power outlet.

But that’s not all. “The new Linde pallet stackers are designed with the overarching goal of being one truck for all conceivable requirements,” emphasizes Castro. To achieve this, five different mast types are available to adapt the trucks to individual conditions in the customer’s company. In addition, there is a wide range of equipment options to ensure that sales consultants can configure the trucks for every application: The initial lift provides more ground clearance when negotiating uneven surfaces and driving over ramps while the double-decker function, for example, allows the simultaneous transport of two pallets over longer distances. The Linde L10 – L12 AS straddle stackers with 1.0 and 1.2 ton load capacity are available for handling pallets with closed bases or special load carriers.

Safety, ergonomics and fleet management offer multiple advantages

Two key elements are essential for achieving productivity: maximum operating comfort and tailored safety equipment that protects the operator, the load and the warehouse infrastructure. The Linde-typical asymmetric tiller head proves its worth in this respect, automatically keeping the operator within the truck contours. Additionally, the long tiller arm ensures that the operator is at a safe distance from the truck when it is in motion, traveling at speeds of up to 6 km/h. The deep-drawn chassis also enhances safety by preventing the operator’s feet from being trapped under the low steel skirt. The active foot bumper is a new equipment option. It senses contact and automatically brakes the truck in response. Another variant actively moves the truck away from the operator in the event of contact.

The Linde Load Management system is available in two versions. In the standard variant, the system determines the load weight on the forks. The advanced version additionally monitors the remaining load capacity in real time and alerts the operator to critical conditions with visual and audible warnings. If the load weight exceeds the maximum load capacity, the system blocks the lift function, preventing further lifting. Travel speed and acceleration are also controlled based on lift height, load weight and steering angle. Another important feature is networking with two-way data transmission: This allows software upgrades and remote diagnostics ‘over the air’, increasing vehicle uptime.

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Podcast: Warehouse Automation – Can you afford not to?

Posted on by David Priestman

Warehouse Automation – Can you afford not to? is the latest episode of our Podcast service, ‘Logistics Business Conversations’. It is now available to listen to on Spotify, Acast, Amazon Audible and other podcast distribution platforms – just search for ‘Logistics Business Conversations’.

Peter MacLeod speaks to Malcolm Porter and Daniel Wood, Automation Sales Managers at Linde Materials Handling. They discuss thoughts on the future of manual forklifts versus the importance of automation, providing you with an understanding of when each should be used. As usual we touch on the impact of labour shortages and the common misconceptions Dan and Malcolm face.

Warehouse automation – can you afford not to?

Hear answers to key questions from these experts, including: how disruption is minimised when introducing automation; what the minimum return on investment is to justify automating; what are the challenges and misconceptions being overcome; what can and cannot be done; what is the total cost of ownership; what are the viable options; what repetitive and mundane tasks can be replaced by automation; what lithium and fast-charge technology is available; how can you plan and simulate before deciding; where to find a good demo site; is automation relatively inflexible.

Listen to any of our Podcast episodes here.

Malcolm Porter, Linde Materials Handling
Dan Wood, Linde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logistics Business Conversations, are monthly, topical and exclusive talks with key informative spokespeople from the supply chain industry. Contact us if you would like to appear as a guest or to discuss a bespoke episode for your company.

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Podcast: Fleet Insurance: Strategies to Control Costs

 

 

 

Increased Protection when Forklifts are Reversing

Posted on by David Priestman

The new “Reverse Assist Radar” system from Linde Material Handling (MH) protects people and prevents damage to goods and infrastructure by detecting moving and stationary objects behind counterbalanced trucks. If there is a risk of a collision, the assistance system very quickly brakes the vehicle to a standstill. The solution ensures high productivity through situation-specific interventions.

“More than half of all accidents involving industrial trucks happen when the vehicle is reversing,” says Fabian Zimmermann, Product Manager Safety Solutions at Linde MH, citing available statistics and drawing attention to a risk that is often underestimated. One of the main reasons is the driver’s limited view to the rear. “The blind spot begins when the angle of vision exceeds 180 degrees. But even before that, people and objects behind the vehicle are not perceived so well.” The Linde Reverse Assist Radar, a sensor-based system that detects both moving and stationary objects located behind the truck in its path of travel, is now available to help.

Forklifts are reversing

A major advantage of this safety solution is its powerful braking performance in the event of danger. If an obstacle is detected, the Linde Reverse Assist Radar brakes the truck to a standstill with a force of up to 3m/s2. The braking effect is calculated according to the lift height, travel speed, steering angle and distance to the obstacle, so it is always adapted to the individual driving and hazard situation. Different lighting conditions do not affect the proper functioning of the system. If the Reverse Assist Radar detects a potential collision, it automatically intervenes and overrides the driving command. “The system provides valuable assistance, especially in hectic situations in the warehouse or when inexperienced forklift drivers are behind the wheel, when material has been placed incorrectly and is in the path of travel or when the driver is distracted,” explains Zimmermann.

Emergency warning only

In the event of a hazard, the system alerts the driver with a series of acoustic signals. If the truck is equipped with an optional 7’’ display, the driver will additionally receive a visual warning and be prompted to check the area behind the vehicle. The detection area is designed to cover the rear width of the truck as standard but can be adjusted to suit individual requirements. “The system only reacts to obstacles in the defined travel path,” continues the product expert. For example, goods or other objects located in a block storage area to the right and left of the path will not cause the system to intervene. This avoids unnecessary disturbances or interruptions.

Another advantage of the Linde Reverse Assist Radar is that it can be combined with other safety assistance solutions. “To minimize risks in the warehouse environment and avoid dangerous situations with industrial trucks, it can make sense to combine different solutions,” explains Zimmermann. These include, for example, the Linde Front Assist Camera, which is based on artificial intelligence and detects dangerous situations involving pedestrians when the truck is moving forward and decelerates the vehicle accordingly. “Our sales organization provides advice and support, because choosing the right solution always depends on the specific situation on site.” Equally important to the Linde safety expert is the impending availability of the Linde Reverse Assist Radar as a retrofit solution.

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Excellent visibility even with bulky loads

 

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