The X factor
April 1st 2005 With a radical departure from traditional design, Linde’s new X range of reach trucks is genuinely groundbreaking
With the spectacular launch of unique X range of reach trucks at the ExCeL Centre in March, Linde has totally changed the ground for reach truck design While materials handling equipment manufacturers have made significant improvements in the ergonomics and performance of their products over the years, the basic design elements of the conventional moving mast reach truck in the vast majority of applications in Europe has not changed fundamentally over 40 years. Now, Linde design engineers have turned reach truck design on its by relocating the primary restricting factor in the operator’s compartment, namely battery, which normally sits between the operator and the mast.
Comfort and panoramic visibility The relocation of the battery was the key that unlocked the design restrictions previously encountered within the operator’s compartment. On the X range the battery located under the operator’s compartment and no longer restricts or occupies valuable cabin space. This has resulted in a spacious workstation where compromises in functional ergonomic layout have been eliminated. As a result, the operator’s compartment has nearly twice the space conventional reach truck, and this has achieved without increasing the chassis length, which remains very compact and manoeuvrable for narrow aisle working.
It has also enabled the fitment of a comfort’ seat with full suspension and adjustable armrests. The left armrest has integrated, compact steering wheel while fingertip control joysticks are integrated the right armrest. There is also a swivelling seat option. The result is a workstation places minimal physical demand on the operator throughout the shift.
The seat design incorporates a comprehensive range of adjustments “Because the mass of the mast no longer moves backwards and forwards, load oscillation is minimal during storage/retrieval sequences” including variable lumbar support and seat height selections to enable all operators to find the perfect individual working posture.
Furthermore, the seat has been moved closer to the mast and fork carriage, and, because the mast is also revolutionary in design, the mast frame uprights provide the operator with an ultra-wide visibility window. This opens up a panoramic, through-the-mast view for the operator that engenders confidence and enhances safety.
The forward positioning of the seat also means the operator is always safely within the profiles of the chassis when working, with no limbs protruding outside the chassis.
A digital head-up instrument display monitors the truck’s systems to provide the operator with a continuous status report on essential functions.
Stability Another departure from conventional reach truck design is that the ultra-wide mast is permanently fixed to the chassis and does not reach backwards and forwards. Instead a traversing fork carriage provides this reach movement.
The ultra-wide mast sits permanently in what is normally described as the ‘reached back’ position on conventional trucks. This fixed mast location, combined with the traversing fork carriage, has a very short traverse distance, which brings major productivity and stability benefits.
Productivity and economy Because the mass of the mast no longer moves backwards and forwards, load oscillation is minimal during the storage/retrieval sequences. In addition, the mass of the fork carriage is much lighter and only has to traverse 170mm in either direction, compared with the typical 500mm of a moving mast reach truck. This, and the short travel, results in quicker cycle times with less energy used per work cycle.
Load placement onto the racking beams is also consistently more precise with such a stable mast and chassis platform.
“The relocation of the battery unlocked design restrictions, eliminating compromises in functional ergonomic layout” Flexibility and adaptability All the performance parameters of the X range can be adjusted to suit the individual requirements of the client in virtually every type of industry.
The maintenancefree AC traction and lift motors offer a wide range of torque/speed ratios to adapt to any task.
Intelligent control At the heart of the X range is the ‘intelligent’ Linde digital controller, which ensures a seamless and extremely efficient transfer of energy from the battery to power the traction, lift and steering motors. The controller also incorporates CAN bus technology for rapid fault analysis and diagnosis as well as shorter service downtimes.
Electric steering with a difference A characteristic of electric steering is that often lacks ‘road feel’ particularly when travelling in a straight line, which can be somewhat disconcerting for the operator.
The Linde rheological electric steering actuated by the compact steering wheel provides reassuring feedback from the surface for total operator confidence and precise, responsive control.
Multi-shift working A selection of high capacity batteries is available and the X range has been designed to include automatic and semi-automatic changing systems to ensure that battery changing is simple and efficient.
Options The wide range of Linde options is retained in the new X range, which also offers the choice of 180º or 360º steering, Linde single or unique twin accelerator pedals, single or dual function fingertip control levers and automatic or manual fork tilt, to name but a few.
The X range is available in capacities from 1.4t to 1.7t and a choice of short and long wheelbase chassis. More articles from Linde Material Handling (UK) Ltd: | 
