From warehouse to powerhouse—with Linde MH
Available. Flexible. Cost-effective.
Fluctuating markets, supply chains disruptions, a shortage of skilled labor, and customers who expect delivery times to be met down to the minute: The key factor in a warehouse’s profitability isn’t the cost of its forklift trucks, but every single day in its ongoing operations. It’s all about having the availability to keep the flow of materials moving, and the flexibility to adapt to every new requirement.
And this is exactly what Linde Material Handling promises: From warehouse to powerhouse. As one of the world’s leading providers of industrial trucks and intralogistics solutions, we combine forklift trucks, service, a rental fleet, and digital management to create an integrated system that gets the most out of every warehouse.
More than just trucks: An ecosystem for tailor-made processes
Availability and flexibility aren’t something you get from any single product—it’s about many different elements working together, including a seamless interplay between the four areas below. Click to go directly to the topic that interests you:
Success story: Passion Froid
Few industries place higher demands on technology than deep-freeze logistics. Non-stop operation, freezing temperatures, and a seamless cold chain throughout all warehouse processes—from goods receipt to shipment—leave no room for error. This example illustrates why Linde MH is the perfect partner for this company’s entire fleet.
Downtime and rigid fleet planning: the hidden cost drivers
Unplanned downtime and a lack of adaptability are the most commonly underestimated cost factors in a warehouse. They rarely appear as a distinct line item in cost calculations, but they take a toll on the entire operation. If a single forklift breaks down, orders pile up, outbound shipments are delayed, and truck time slots are missed.
A lack of flexibility in fleet planning is just as costly, because companies that cannot scale up quickly enough during peak periods lose orders. Those sitting with excess capacity during slow periods burn through capital, and technical or planning bottlenecks quickly become a substantial cost problem.
The product portfolio
Reliable and versatile right from the factory
From goods receipt to shipment, from manual single-truck operations to automated mixed fleets, there are no off-the-shelf products at Linde MH. This ensures that the perfect forklift truck is available for every job. At the same time, every Linde truck is made for durability. Robust design and low-wear components keep the forklifts running reliably, even under heavy-duty conditions.
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One-of-a-kind range
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Reliability by design
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Designed for extreme conditions
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Safety precautions prevent downtime
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Automation that grows with you
One-of-a-kind range
With around 80 series, some 350 model variants, and more than 10,000 equipment options, we can create the perfect forklift truck for every application. This offers real economic benefits: A forklift truck tailored to specific conditions increases handling capacity while also being less prone to overloading, and thus less likely to cause unplanned downtime.
Reliability by design
A torsion-resistant, deep-drawn chassis, steel-reinforced components such as tiller arms, and solid steel aprons protect both the driver and the truck. Low-wear materials, such as induction-hardened reach profiles and high-strength mast profiles, extend the service life of the entire system. Electric motors and hydraulic components are encapsulated, protecting them from dust and moisture.
Designed for extreme conditions
Whether it’s heat, cold, or high dust levels, Linde MH caters for demanding conditions by offering special filters, protective equipment, corrosion-resistant surfaces, and stainless steel components as well as suitable hydraulic oils and lubricants. Especially in deep-freeze logistics or businesses with high levels of dust, these factors determine whether a forklift truck will operate reliably even under heavy-duty conditions.
Safety precautions prevent downtime
Accidents are among the most common causes of downtime. With a broad portfolio of active assistance systems, Linde MH systematically reduces the incidents that set off far-reaching domino effects in the warehouse. Dynamic Mast Control prevents rack damage at height, while the Linde Safety Guard, Linde Curve Assist, and smart camera systems protect personnel, trucks, and infrastructure.
Automation that grows with you
The MATIC series by Linde MH offers autonomous industrial trucks for a wide variety of tasks, ranging from the L-MATIC core for fast ground transport to the T-MATIC core for loading trucks. The scalable MATIC:move and MATIC:move+ software controls processes ranging from a single forklift truck to a large fleet of up to 150 trucks. Thanks to the VDA 5050 standard, the trucks can also be integrated into systems from other providers. This makes it possible to start the automation process on a small scale and expand step by step as needed.
How do industrial trucks that are built to be robust and precision-tailored to specific warehouse applications contribute to high availability and cost-effectiveness in intralogistics?
- Peter Klug, Product Manager Warehouse Technology
Optimal service
There when it counts
Even the most reliable forklift truck will eventually need maintenance or repairs. And when that time comes, every minute counts. A service that supports business-critical processes must be one thing above all else: fast, local, and successful the first time. With a close-knit service network and systematic “design to service” approach, Linde MH ensures that every forklift truck is back in service quickly.
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Only a call away
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Fixed on the first try
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Overnight spare parts delivery
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Predictability you can count on
Only a call away
With more than 8,500 service technicians working across the region, the Linde MH team is always close by. At the same time, long maintenance intervals reduce the number of workshop visits from the outset. For many models, oil and filter changes are not required until after 6,000 operating hours.
Fixed on the first try
Using CAN bus-based diagnostics and remote service access, service technicians can retrieve truck parameters and fault codes before arriving on-site and, in some cases, resolve issues remotely. This increases the first-time fix rate and reduces downtime, even when an on-site visit is necessary. As a result, more than 90 percent of forklift trucks are back in working order after the service technician’s first on-site visit.
Overnight spare parts delivery
The Linde logistics network delivers spare parts within 24 hours in Europe and within 48 hours worldwide. The KION Regional Distribution Center in Kahl am Main stocks approximately 70,000 spare parts for more than 200 series across 22,000 square meters of floor space. Plus, Linde MH guarantees the availability of spare parts for up to 12 years after the end of production, so even older fleets can continue to operate reliably.
Predictability you can count on
With our full-service contracts, Linde MH guarantees truck availability, minimizes operational risks, and ensures predictable service costs. If a truck cannot be repaired quickly enough, Linde MH provides a replacement.
How do remote diagnostics and well-equipped service technicians ensure that industrial trucks are back in service quickly and warehouse operations run smoothly?
- Christian Ullrich, Head of Business Development Service
The rental fleet
Capacity at the push of a button
A fixed fleet rarely has what it takes for a dynamic order situation. When seasonal business picks up or a forklift truck breaks down at short notice, quick and hassle-free reinforcements are needed. With one of the largest rental fleets in Europe, Linde MH makes adjusting capacity a simple routine—without any long-term investment risks.
Custom rentals
From a fleet of approximately 80,000 rental trucks worldwide, Linde MH provides exactly the equipment needed for each specific application. Lease contracts range from one day to 365 days and can be canceled at any time. This allows the fleet size to be flexibly adjusted to actual demand.
Ready to use
Under ideal conditions, Linde MH delivers rental trucks within one to two days, and in some cases even on the same day. The rental fleet thus serves as a reserve pool on standby, so you have a reliable backup in the event of unexpected spikes in orders or equipment failures.
State-of-the-art technology
With an average age of about 2.5 years, the rental fleet provides access to state-of-the-art technology—such as lithium-ion drives and the latest driver-assistance systems—without having to purchase the equipment outright. All product categories are available, including specialist attachments on request. As a result, the rental fleet meets not only standard requirements but also specialist application needs.
The smart way to make the wait fly by
Rental trucks from Linde MH are often used to bridge the gap until new forklift trucks are delivered. This makes leasing a smart tool for procurement planning, allowing companies to build capacity as needed without tying up capital long-term.
How do flexible rental fleets make it possible to quickly accommodate fluctuations in warehouse capacity and turn peaks in demand into an advantage without long-term commitments?
- Eren Erden, Head of Short Term Rental Business Development
Digital fleet management
Rely on data, not gut feeling
If you want to avoid downtime, you need to know how your fleet is performing. What used to be an invisible cost factor becomes a transparent and manageable variable with the myLinde fleet management software. This cloud-based platform is the bedrock of modern fleet management. Intuitive to use and boasting a modular design, users only pay for the features they actually use—making myLinde suitable for fleets of any size.
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Plan ahead
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Start your shift safely
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A transparent look at operations
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Early damage detection
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Smart access management
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Using energy wisely
Plan ahead
Operating hours are a precise indicator of when the next maintenance is due, allowing service to be scheduled proactively, long before a forklift truck breaks down. For rental equipment, the agreed usage limits are also visible at all times.
Start your shift safely
With the digital Pre-Operational Check, drivers can conveniently check the forklift truck’s condition before each trip using an app or the display. If a critical defect, such as a leak, is detected, the forklift truck can be automatically locked. This protects personnel and prevents costly consequential damage.
A transparent look at operations
Fleet analytics make it possible to accurately track how often a forklift truck is used, when it is idling, and when it is completely stationary. This transparency transforms one of the most costly (yet often overlooked) factors in a warehouse—downtime—into a measurable and controllable metric. Processes can be optimized as a result, significantly improving fleet utilization.
Early damage detection
The shock detection feature in the myLinde fleet management software provides detailed information about the forklift truck’s condition following collisions. Users can customize the threshold at which a notification is issued based on the intensity of the impact. In addition, the system records the direction of the impact as well as other relevant event data. This allows damage to be identified at an early stage and repaired promptly, thereby preventing further damage.
More about myLindeSmart access management
Individual user rights and validity periods can be set for each driver. Access control is managed via a PIN code or RFID chip, ensuring that only authorized persons can access the forklift trucks. In addition, storage and operational areas can be divided into different zones, and forklift trucks and drivers can be specifically assigned to certain areas.
Using energy wisely
Integrating with the energy management system makes it possible to monitor the electricity consumption of the entire fleet. This helps avoid costly load peaks and lets you prioritize charging processes on a targeted basis, so the forklift trucks crucial to your business are always available when needed.
How does transparent data on usage profiles and the condition of the industrial truck fleet create the conditions for proactive fleet management and thereby improve warehouse efficiency?
- Tobias Klein, Senior Strategy and Portfolio Manager Digital Solutions
Sustainability
When environmental responsibility pays off
Climate targets, rising energy costs, and growing expectations from customers and clients are making sustainability in the warehouse a bigger focus all the time. Here’s the good news: Much of what makes Linde MH a strong partner in terms of availability and flexibility also has a positive impact on sustainability targets. Durable trucks conserve resources, efficient power units reduce fuel consumption and emissions, short travel distances for service technicians prevent unnecessary trips, and a flexible rental fleet adapts to actual needs. All this comes backed up by TÜV-certified life cycle assessment data and personalized consulting to help you make your intralogistics more sustainable.
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Durability conserves resources
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Efficient power units reduce emissions
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Rental fleet instead of overcapacity
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High-coverage service network cuts down on travel
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Employee safety
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Consulting toward greater sustainability
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Independently verified sustainability
Durability conserves resources
A robust design, low-wear components, and exceptionally long maintenance intervals significantly extend the service life of our trucks. Every year a truck stays in service saves the cost of manufacturing a replacement unit—and thus the raw materials, energy, and emissions associated with producing new equipment. And to take these benefits up another notch, our spare parts are available for up to twelve years after the end of production.
Efficient power units reduce emissions
The majority of the forklift trucks sold by Linde MH are now electric. Lithium-ion power units achieve the highest efficiency along the entire energy chain and significantly reduce energy consumption. Plus, intelligent energy management ensures that load peaks are avoided and the right trucks are charged at the right time. It all boils down to lower energy costs and a better carbon footprint for the fleet.
Rental fleet instead of overcapacity
Linde’s rental fleet, which comprises approximately 80,000 trucks worldwide, is essentially a sharing model: forklift trucks are utilized across multiple customers rather than being kept as excess capacity at individual operations, significantly reducing resource consumption. At the same time, rental customers benefit from the fleet’s low average age (about 2.5 years) and, as a result, from the latest in efficient, energy-saving power unit technology.
High-coverage service network cuts down on travel
With more than 700 sales and service locations and over 8,500 service technicians, Linde MH’s service network has the highest coverage in the European market. Technicians are distributed across the region and travel significantly shorter distances when responding to service calls. This reduces fuel consumption and transportation-related emissions for each individual service job.
Employee safety
Assistance systems such as the Linde Safety Guard, active foot bumpers, the Reverse Assist Camera, and Dynamic Mast Control protect employees from accidents and injuries and all play a role in Linde MH’s Vision Zero philosophy. Combined with ergonomically designed trucks and workstations, this makes a measurable contribution to workplace safety and employee well-being—an increasingly important factor in supplier evaluations and tenders.
Consulting toward greater sustainability
Every company’s journey to more sustainable intralogistics looks different. At Linde MH, we understand this. That’s why we provide personalized consulting to help with the selection of suitable trucks and power unit technologies, the design of appropriate charging infrastructure, and smart energy management. This results in solutions that are tailored to the realities of the business and combine environmental targets with economic benefits.
Independently verified sustainability
Linde MH’s sustainability performance has been independently verified on multiple occasions: Since 2023, EcoVadis has awarded Linde MH its highest “Platinum” rating; all locations are certified to ISO 14001 (environmental management); and, as part of the KION Group, Linde MH fulfils the criteria of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Customers also have access to life cycle assessment data for the key product types to use in their own reporting.
What our customers say
Everything from a single source
As a general contractor, Linde Material Handling handles the end-to-end planning, coordination, and implementation of intralogistics projects. Drawing on our comprehensive process expertise and a broad portfolio of solutions, we ensure that all areas, systems, and procedures work together seamlessly. If a complex warehouse automation project goes beyond our own portfolio, we draw on the expertise available within the KION Group. Together with our sister brand Dematic, we can implement large-scale projects that meet the highest standards for efficiency, safety, and scalability.
From warehouse to powerhouse
Our experience from warehouses around the world shows that top performance isn’t achieved through individual products or quick, stopgap solutions. It happens when you truly understand your business, empower your team, streamline your processes, and never stop getting better. Step-by-step.
When every process, every person, and every square meter performs at its best, your warehouse becomes a powerhouse.
