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Linde Material Handling Delivers First Fuel Cell Trucks

With the delivery of two fuel-cell trucks to the Linde Gases Division, part of The Linde Group, Linde Material Handling has taken another important step on the road to more intensive use of innovative drive technology. As the largest industrial truck manufacturer in Europe, Linde MH now incorporates fuel cell trucks into its product range.

Both fuel-cell trucks are based on the Linde E 30, 3-tonne electric counterbalanced truck. Instead of the usual 80-volt battery, the trucks have a fuel cell and a tank which stores 1.6 kilograms of hydrogen gas at 350 bar. The electricity generated from the hydrogen powers the electric motors that drive the truck. Alongside this are so-called supercaps - large condensers which act as a buffer to cover peaks current draw, such as accelerating from rest or lifting a load, for example. The trucks bear the CE mark and are registered for use on the public road. When it comes to performance, the trucks are no different to the equivalent battery-powered models and the specification is especially tailored to the Linde Gas requirements.

These fuel-cell trucks have been developed over the last two years with Lindes long-term partner, Hydrogenics, the Canadian fuel cell manufacturer. Linde's distributor, Gruma Nutzfahrzeuge, based in Garching, near Munich, has been involved with the project from the start and is responsible for servicing and maintaining the trucks. One of the trucks is used by Linde Gas for transporting Gas bottles between production and despatch which involves crossing a public road. The second works in the bottle filling area. Both trucks replace diesel trucks with a 3.5-tonne capacity which were previously used for this purpose. Refilling the fuel-cell trucks is quick and safe using the Linde hydrogen filling centre and is comparable to refilling conventional diesel truck.

The main benefit of the fuel-cell Linde Gas is the "zero emissions" aspect. The only waste product from the conversion of hydrogen into electricity is pure water. Further benefit of fuel cells compared to conventional traction batteries is that there is no longer a need to change the battery for a second shift or charge a battery which can take several hours. Operators with a licence for a conventional counterbalance truck only require an hour and a half of conversion training to operate these new fuel cell machines.

www.linde-mh.co.uk


Upcoming Exhibitions
February 2012 - Modex - 6th to 9th February
ProMat2011 was a very successful show with attendees stating they have plans to spend $ 75 billion in materials handling equipment and technology in the next 18 months.
March 2012 - Logimat Stuttgart - 13th to 15th March
Between 13 and 15 March 2012, the 10th 'International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow', LogiMAT 2012, will be putting on a comprehensive show of innovative products, services and the latest solutions in the intralogistics sector. In its anniversary year LogiMAT is taking up the entire north wing of the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
May 2012 - AMHSA - 2nd May 2012
A one-day event for Supply Chain Directors and Senior Logistics Managers to discuss the developments in material handling over the next five years and the key role that automation and software will play.
 Keynote speaker: Lord Digby Jones


June 2012- Transfairlog - 12th to 14th
transfairlog is the name of a new specialist trade fair for international transport and logistics management, taking place for the first time from 12 to 14 June 2012 in Hamburg. transfairlog is aimed at companies involved in the import and export transport chain. It focuses on ocean and inland shipping, forwarding services and operational equipment, warehouse optimisation and process control, container cranes and electric stackers and lots more – in short transfairlog is about the optimisation of international freight transports and logistics processes. The fair covers the full spectrum in the transport and logistics market.
 
June 2012 - CSCO Forum - 18th to 20th June
The Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum is the most elite gathering of the Heads of North America’s Best-in-Class supply chains. Nowhere else will you find a greater concentration of top executives sharing strategies and engaging in board-level discussion and debate.
 
If your role depends on knowing the key supply chain management strategies of the industry leaders, and meeting and developing relationships with the executives who lead those supply chains, then you cannot afford to miss this event!
 
Join the highest level, most cutting edge forum for the industry executives who are driving their organizations and their careers towards a new era of innovation and success
June 2012 - 3PL Summit - 18th to 20th June
eyefortransport's 10th 3PL Summit, co-located with the Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum, form  the most elite meeting place for senior supply chain executives on the one hand, and the CEOs of the largest 3PLs on the other.  Discover the growth strategies of the industry leaders at their only meeting place.
 
Join the highest level, most cutting edge forum for the industry executives who are driving their organisations and their careers towards a new era of innovation and success.
 
Register to attend the most game-changing event in the industry today.
June 2012 - 3PL Awards - 19th June
Each year the eyefortransport 3PL Awards aim to recognize those 3PLs that continuously deliver excellence in logistics operations and superior service to their customers. The awards are decided on by 3PL customers - the manufacturers and retailers who depend upon and work with logistics service providers every day.
 
As such, these awards take on a special significance, and the winners can feel confident in the knowledge that their customers have chosen them as best of breed partners in supply chain excellence.
June 2012 - SIL - 5th to 8th June
The fourteenth edition of the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL 2012), which will be held from 5th to 8th June at Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía venue, has just presented its slogan.


September 2012 - Material Handling - 27th to 30th
The Material Handling World Expo is an endeavor
which is specifically designed to present an array of
developments in the material handling segment of the
industry. With an exhibition area spread over 10,000
Sq. Mtrs. and a guarantee of over 100 participants
both locol and foreign, The Material Handling World
Expo is a place to be.
October 2012 - CILF - 15th to 17th October 2012
The 7th China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair (CILF2012) shall be held on Oct. 15-17, 2012. （Mon.-Wed.）
 
March 2013 - IMHX - 19th to 22nd March
After a hugely successful event in November 2010, a large number of IMHX exhibitors have rebooked for the next show in March 2013.
Case Studies
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Coca-cola, Amatil
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has been located in Northmead for more than 30 years and over this time, has experienced high levels of continuous growth. The Northmead plant manufactures 60 million unit cases of soft drinks per year, producing product in cans at 2,000 per minute and PET bottles at 600 per minute.
The letter of the law
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Pilot scheme success
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Extending reach and life
Add-ons and customisation are two aftermarket services that greatly benefit the forklift truck. Logistics Business catches up with news and innovations from this highly competitive market sector.
TVH makes a smart move
It’s always nice to report a happy ending, even in harsh economic times for the materials handling industry. Read how two Logistics Business customers recently teamed-up to facilitate a state-of-the-art distribution facility for forklift truck parts.