Inver GmbH relies on Linde MH’s explosion‑protection expertise

Here, the chemistry is right in more than one sense: Inver GmbH, part of Sherwin‑Williams, the world’s largest coatings manufacturer, relies fully on Linde Material Handling’s explosion‑protection expertise at its Dresden site. Factory‑certified ATEX vehicles are part of the equation, as is the close support provided by specially trained explosion‑protection service professionals.

The logistics requirements at Inver GmbH are, in principle, no different from those of countless other companies: “We need reliable, comfortable and powerful industrial trucks that allow people to work safely,” explains Jens Bonitz, Plant Manager at the Dresden site. So far, so ordinary. Except that safety is a far more specific issue for a manufacturer of paints, varnishes and coating materials. “As a classic chemical operation, we work with numerous hazardous substances that can create an explosive atmosphere. In the worst case, even a tiny spark from a forklift’s fork scraping the floor could be enough,” Bonitz says. In short: explosion protection is mandatory – and since becoming part of the US‑based Sherwin‑Williams Group, these requirements have become even stricter, in some cases far exceeding statutory regulations.

No room for risk

A glance down the storage aisles makes it clear that the goods stored here must be handled with great care. Almost every container displays hazardous‑materials signage. “Our warehouse falls under ATEX Zone 2, where flammable gases, vapours and mists may occur. Next door in production, our staff work mainly in ATEX Zone 1, where the hazard potential is even higher,” says Bonitz. There, raw materials – from resins and pigments to granules – are mixed in large vessels. The facility is designed for a production capacity of up to 200 tonnes per day; the finished products are used worldwide, for example as dip coatings for energy systems, as wheelset coatings for trains or in the construction machinery sector. “We are involved in virtually every aspect of the business,” the Plant Manager remarks with a smile.

Mission: moving away from a mixed fleet

To handle internal material transport, the company relies on several types of explosion‑protected industrial trucks: counterbalance trucks for loading and unloading lorries, reach trucks for wide‑aisle racking, and a pallet stacker for supplying the mixing vessels. “In the past, we had a mixed fleet from various manufacturers,” says Bonitz. But after joining Sherwin‑Williams and facing stricter safety standards, it became clear: retrofitters were no longer an option. “Many suppliers integrate explosion‑protection measures afterwards. This leaves customers dealing with two partners – the OEM and the retrofitter – which makes service significantly more complicated. That was too cumbersome, so we looked for suppliers who take a different approach.”

The all‑from‑one‑source principle

Explosion‑protected vehicles may be highly specialised in their final form – but at Linde MH they are developed together with the 0-series of standard series trucks. “This close integration of standard and explosion‑protected trucks brings many advantages,” says Elke Karnarski, Product Manager EX‑Proof Trucks at Linde MH. “Customers can rely on the EX trucks offering the same comfort, handling and performance as the standard models. Operators don’t have to change their

working habits. At the same time, we as the manufacturer can fully integrate all explosion‑protection measures and then certify not only the individual assemblies but the entire vehicle according to ATEX.” These strong arguments also convinced the decision‑makers at Inver GmbH.

Explosion protection without compromise

Since 2025, the coatings manufacturer has relied entirely on Linde MH’s explosion‑protection expertise. The fleet includes five Linde E25 EX electric counterbalance trucks with a capacity of 2.5 tonnes, two Linde R14 EX reach trucks, and one Linde L14 EX pallet stacker. All vehicles are fitted with extensive protective measures tailored to their respective ATEX zones – following the principle: no spark must ever come from the vehicle. For example, the counterbalance trucks have stainless‑steel‑coated forks, and the tyres, floor mats, armrests and seat cushions are all made from conductive materials. All electronic controls, sensors and relays for Zone 1/21 are housed in flameproof enclosures.

A temperature‑monitoring system ensures that the maximum permissible temperature in the vehicle, which is determined by the hazardous materials being transported, is not exceeded. “Even the safety systems we requested – the camera and lighting solutions such as Linde BlueSpot and Red Warning Lines – were supplied in EX‑protected versions,” Bonitz says.

EXcellence in service

Inver GmbH is equally satisfied with the service. “We are supported by the local Linde MH network partner in Dresden. They are on site in no time when needed and deeply familiar with explosion protection,” says Bonitz. Technicians trained to international explosion‑protection standards can perform not only standard maintenance but also the mandatory periodic ATEX inspections directly on site. “That saves us enormous time and organisational effort because we don’t need to send the trucks anywhere,” Bonitz explains. Has the original wish list now been fully met? “Almost,” he says with a grin. “After our positive experience with Linde MH, we would actually like to have a few more vehicles.”