Linde’s heritage and a look to the future with Max Sammartano
Max Sammartano is Linde Material Handling’s UK managing director, overseeing the strategic planning for the company, including the latest innovations in products and material handling solutions. He looks back on 70 years at Linde’s Basingstoke headquarters.
Linde has a strong heritage here in the UK, having first started out in 1943 under the name Lansing Bagnall.
The company had humble beginnings with just seven employees which, by 1970, grew to more than 3,500 people and today boasts a UK workforce under the Linde brand of 1680 employees.
Lansing Bagnall became internationally known as the largest manufacturer of electric industrial trucks in Europe.
The launch of their first reach truck at the Mechanical Handling Exhibition in Olympia in 1954 was the first truck to feature a mast which moved outward on the truck frame. The revolutionary new truck was an instant success and its design still plays a part in our product development today.
In 1989, the company was bought by Linde AG and in 2003 became Linde Material Handling UK, operating as we know it today. The two brands harmonised easily because they share a similar heritage and the same core virtues of outstanding quality and customer service.
Now, the Linde brand is fully established in the UK and its journey is something I am immensely proud of. Our heritage secures our position in the market and makes our company an attractive player not only for customers, but also for potential employees.
Our heritage is part of our community and 2019 marks the 70th year at our Basingstoke headquarters site. We have a great number of long serving employees who have worked for the company for many years, some passing their knowledge and expertise through their own family generations.
Our brand values remain the same as they were back in the days of Lansing Bagnall; maintaining high quality standards, continuously innovating and keeping the customer at the heart of everything we do.
