The future in focus

Demands to decrease environmental impact, truck downtime, improve operator safety and cut fuel costs are all key trends our customers are asking for. Sourcing alternative fuels has led to innovations in new types of batteries for electric trucks including lithium-ion and hydrogen cells which reduce downtime normally spent on recharging due to their long shift life. 

We’re already introducing Linde developed clean, efficient energy alternatives having launched new drive technology systems including lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells.

Charging, maintenance and battery changes on electric forklifts incur cost and take time. Linde has developed counterbalance trucks with alternative systems offering rapid charging and better energy efficiency eliminating the need for battery changing.

We’ve recently increased our range of lithium-ion battery-powered forklift trucks with five new counterbalance models ranging from 1.4 to 1.8 tonnes which include new features to improve operator safety and reduce downtime.

Safety improvements, such as sophisticated software systems to help operators lift and transport goods safely or which can automatically intervene to limit dangerous driving speeds or tilting angles and prevent collisions, are examples of how technology has helped meet the demand for safer working environments.

It’s important to think about the needs of the application; the weight of the loads and the height they need to be lifted to suggest safety additions such as speed control or vehicle warning systems. 

Human error is the biggest factor in forklift truck accidents and incidents with potential consequences ranging from costly material damage to significant disruption of processes or serious personal injury. This is where safety devices such as Bluespot and Linde Safety Pilot (LSP) come into play.

Some counterbalance trucks can now be ordered with inbuilt safety and warning systems such as LSP, a system which signals to operators the optimal lift height and speed according to the load being carried regulating lifting, tilting and driving functions. Linde’s Bluespot warning light also helps signal to staff in busy or noisy warehouses that a truck is reversing nearby, informing them of a potential hazard.

By bridging the gap between today’s existing technologies and future developments Linde has already showcased innovations in a range of areas including connectivity, automation, individualisation and power systems.

At the World of Materials Handling (WoMH), a customer event we hosted last year, Linde revealed what the warehouse of the future may look like. This included goods being transported automatically, trucks which generate more energy while operating than they consume, and the creation of a completely networked warehouse through cluster logistics.