Linde Material Handling recently presented its new range of electric forklift trucks consisting of 26 three- and four-wheel models with capacities from 1,0 to 2,0 tonnes. The new trucks have been designed to offer significant improvements in ergonomics, performance and safety and are best suited to the most diverse operational needs.
The segment of three- and four-wheel electric forklifts, with a capacity of up to two tons, represents one of the most important markets: in fact, these are ideal vehicles for operating in different contexts, from beverage warehouses to distribution centers, to food production plants or construction companies. This type of forklift is also particularly sought after by companies that handle heavy materials, such as metals, chemical production plants or woodworking activities.
To better respond to growing market demand, Linde MH has chosen to launch a new range consisting of 26 new models divided into two main lines: the Linde Xi models – which include 12 new forklift trucks – which can count on an integrated lithium-ion battery and offer high-level speed and operating capacity; and the new Linde E line, which includes 14 vehicles and has instead provided for the renewal of some of the Group's most successful electric forklift trucks, from the Linde E14 to the E20 model, with a capacity of 1,4 to 2,0 tonnes. In particular, the new E range allows operators to switch from lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion batteries according to the plug-and-play principle, or to continue using existing batteries. In addition, the E models have been designed to also offer fuel cell technology.
“With Linde, we have once again set a new benchmark in our industry: Thanks to new technologies and optimised vehicle design, we are able to meet our customers’ requirements even more comprehensively with comfortable, safe and energy-efficient vehicles,” said Torsten Rochelmeyer, Senior Director Strategy & Solution Portfolio at Linde Material Handling, at the product launch event in Aschaffenburg.
Thanks to the integration of lithium-ion batteries and the optimised design, the new trucks in the Xi and E lines guarantee an increase in performance. Specifically, the Linde Xi10 to Xi20 models guarantee a significant improvement in terms of efficiency in daily use, largely thanks to the combination of a 90 V lithium-ion battery with synchronous reluctance motors. These trucks can in fact reach 20 km/h in a very short time, guaranteeing lifting and lowering speeds of goods up to 20% higher than the average of trucks offered by the competition.
Designed to ensure maximum operator comfort, the new trucks include ergonomic workstations, enhanced heating systems – improved by 60% compared to previous models to provide a comfortable climate even in very cold outside temperatures – and the revolutionary Linde Steer Control, for intuitive and personalized control. In particular, Linde MH has studied and designed the new trucks taking into account the specific needs of drivers. An approach that also emerges in a detail of the new Linde Xi10 – Xi20 trucks, where the integrated lithium-ion battery improves and optimizes the spaces of the truck: the access step is in fact significantly larger and lower, while the footwell is approximately 30% larger than that typical of this class of vehicles, thus ensuring greater space for movement.
