Shortlisted x4

Linde’s products have been shortlisted for awards in the Safety, Innovation, Ergonomics and Environment categories. The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held at the International Centre in Telford in February 2015.

Named in the Safety and Innovation category shortlist is Linde’s Safety Pilot Sensor. A unique electronic driver assistance system that shows the operator; the load weight on the fork arms, current lift height, tilt angle of the fork arms and subsequent load centre, and the maximum lift height to which the load may be raised. It helps operators to be informed by displaying the information on a screen which produces a visual and acoustic warning when the truck parameters are reaching their limit.

If ignored the truck control unit also actively intervenes and regulates the truck functions to eliminate accidents. The technology behind the system relies on sensors that measure data at different points on the truck and then forwards this information to the control unit.

The company’s new EVO electric counterbalance truck has been identified as a potential winner in the environment category. The whole concept of the new EVO series of electric 1.2 to 2-tonne trucks is based on the optimal use of energy.  All driving and lifting parameters are optimised for high efficiency and the highly efficient hydraulic pump reduces energy consumption.

The new power module achieves up to 16 percent lower energy consumption compared to the previous series due to integration into the axle. The compact drive axle is also at the heart of the 386’s low energy consumption with an integrated pump motor, shorter power cables to ensure there is no loss of energy, efficient AC motors designed specifically for counterbalance trucks and  intelligent cooling systems which automatically adapted to the application.

Linde’s tilting barrier on the V Modular range has made the shortlist for the Ergonomics Award. The increase in the requirement for individual case picking in VNA applications has lead Linde to look at ways of reducing stress and increasing efficiency in the order picking operation. The tilting barrier reduces the clearance between the operator and the load in the racking by 100mm, but the ergonomic design of the barrier allows the operator to reach up to an additional 500mm into the load giving better access to cases at the back of a pallet and optimising the order picking process.

To guarantee safety, the barrier only tilts when the truck is stationary, and in guided applications when the truck is operational in the aisle. Traction is only possible when the barrier is tilted back into the normal drive position.

Linde’s commercial director, Andrew Daly, said: “It’s a real credit to our engineering design team that we have been shortlisted in all four categories and demonstrates our commitment to producing innovative products that will improve operator well-being and help customers improve their cost efficiencies.”