Linde forklifts set new standards

With a load capacity of 2.0 to 3.5 tonnes, these fit-for-the-future, “Swiss Army Knife” trucks set new standards in terms of safety, efficiency, reliability, and connectivity, taking the interaction between man and machine to the next level. 

It’s unbelievably comfortable

The most important and influential factor in material handling is the human operator, and the safer and more ergonomic their environment, the better they work. This is why the new series was created with the operator at centre stage. The truck’s design was informed by a survey of almost a thousand forklift operators and fleet managers who expressed wishes ranging from step design to easy accessibility for servicing: “We listened closely to our customers and passed on their comments to our development engineers,” says Stefan Prokosch, Senior Vice President Product Management Industrial Trucks Counterbalance at Linde Material Handling. The result is a vehicle that supports and protects the operators in an unprecedented way. The functionality, feel, and design of the controls rival the standards of a commercial vehicle: the truck’s step has a height of merely 465 millimetres and is more than twice as wide as before; a range of twelve different operator seat options is available; the heated seat has a separately adjustable backrest; and the cockpit affords more than 10 centimetres of increased headroom within a spacious and bright operator compartment. The ergonomic armrest provides support and easy access to all essential functions, allowing the operator to effortlessly control all mast and hydraulic functions from the fingertips. And, as with all Linde products, safety is at the heart of the truck’s design: all forklifts are equipped with an electronic seatbelt monitoring function – if the operator is not wearing a seatbelt, the forklift will only travel at creep speed. Furthermore, thanks to the drive and steering axles being completely decoupled from the truck’s frame, the operator is protected from shocks and vibrations. These features (and more!) are what separate the new generation from its predecessors, offering a unique operating experience.

It’s a control tower

The first fully networked truck of its kind, this generation of forklift delivers an unparalleled degree of connectivity as standard. All relevant truck data is transmitted to a central cloud server, and in turn, data can be received and processed by the truck’s software. This development makes it possible to carry out over-the-air software updates and activate certain functions (such as the load weight display), making material flows even more transparent and productive. This level of connectivity future-proofs the truck for all conceivable applications in conjunction with Industry 4.0, whilst presenting clear servicing advantages, as remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance data, and truck health management systems all ensure maximum uptime and minimal customer costs.

Stefan Prokosch spoke of the revolutionary nature of the wireless software and its adaptability for the future, saying that “we can adapt forklifts to changing customer needs throughout their entire life cycle – even needs that we do not know about yet.” Within the hardware of the truck itself, whether driving, reversing, loading or unloading, the modern Linde Safety Pilot and Safety Guard displays provide a comprehensive view of all relevant truck data and assistance functions at a glance, preventing mistakes and accidents and minimising downtime. The truck is also equipped with programmable multifunction switches, allowing drivers to pre-set individual assignments such as speed reduction or tilt angle pre-selection.

It’s the perfect view

Safety and productivity are of paramount importance when it comes to intralogistics, and unrestricted all-round visibility is an important prerequisite for quick, precise and safe goods handling. Particularly in this respect, the Linde Material Handling designers have created a revelation. The fields of vision through the lift mast alone have been increased by a whopping 20% compared with the previous model; slim A-pillars and asymmetrical mast profiles open up additional viewing windows; the flatter counterweight allows a clearer rear view; and the low front plate and panoramic armoured glass roof combine maximum visibility with the best possible protection. These features give the operator an even better view in all directions, improving visibility of the driving path as well as the forks and the load. The weatherproof cabin also offers optimum side visibility thanks to its fully glazed doors. Additionally, the design of the chassis – with overhead tilt cylinders and load-bearing frame – ensures mast stability and maximum residual load capacity. 

Along with the clear benefits for productivity, the model’s improved visibility also marks a major development in terms of safety. Linde’s approach to safety is to pursue a “vision zero”, whereby the goal is to reduce the number of accidents within the working environment to zero. With this truck, more visibility leads to more control, which will lead to fewer accidents.

It’s a workhorse

This latest generation of counterbalanced trucks represent everything that Linde forklift trucks have always stood for: they are safe, user-friendly, robust and extremely powerful. When it comes to efficiency and productivity, these trucks offer the best performance in class, and at the heart of the performance of any industrial truck is the drive system. The combination of the Linde hydrostatic transmission and the industrial engine makes the new H20-H35 series the most powerful machine of its kind. The new and improved hydrostatic drive allows constant driving performance at a lower engine speed – even when driving and lifting at the same time, whilst the double pedal control ensures maximum precision, even under the toughest operating conditions. Modified for the new generation, the closed, maintenance-free hydraulic system transfers the power of the industrial engine to the drive wheels and lifting hydraulics without any waste: this is crucial to achieving maximum throughput with minimum fuel consumption. On the efficiency of the new models, Prokosch noted that “measurements show that our forklifts are up to 30 percent more economical than those of our competitors and they are also clearly superior when it comes to handling capacity. This makes them even more cost-efficient throughout their entire service life.” 

Showcasing their characteristic flair for innovation, the brains at Linde MH didn’t stop at the launch of the new IC series in November– they also unveiled the latest generation of N20 low-lift order pickers. The addition of these ten pioneering model variants now represents the broadest order picking portfolio in the market, with a wide array of machinery able to cater to any customer needs. 

While the updated N20C model follows the usual market design for the battery, operator and lifting module layout – best accommodating the operators of mixed fleets – the N20 is the only model of its kind on the market. Its battery is positioned behind the operator’s platform, leaving space for the operator to stand far forward in the vehicle: this allows the operator to spot other vehicles or people at the end of an aisle in good time, safeguarding both man and machine from potential collisions. With the front wheels tucked underneath, the battery’s innovative positioning also makes the unit more compact – as a result, the N20 is more agile than any of its predecessors.

Not only does this new generation of order picker offer improvements in safety and manoeuvrability, its state-of-the-art ergonomics guarantee an increase in productivity, too. As with the new IC series, this truck has been designed with the operator in mind; after all, creating the most user-friendly goods handling vehicle is the best way to heighten productivity and reduce error rates, particularly when it comes to order picking. The pneumatic-dampened platform shields the operator from impacts and vibrations, whilst the height-adjustable, single hand operation steering wheel, cushioned knee protection, and adjustable backrest all make for a highly comfortable operating experience. With all these features (and more!), no wonder there’s already a lot of excitement about the product update.