Twyford's switch to Linde enabled it to reduce its overall fleet size from 28 to 20 forklifts.

Twyford Bathrooms, which is part of the multi-national Sanitec Group, has selected Linde Material Handling as its forklift supplier, after revisiting the five-year lease for its 28-strong forklift fleet.

The move was part of Twyford's wider operational review to improve cost efficiency and meet the expanding requirements of its Alsager factory's third party storage operation.

Phil Timmis, logistics manager at Twyford says:
"Switching to Linde Material Handling, together with our internal stock re-organisation to lower level racking, means we are now on track to realise cost savings of EUR230,000 (USD332,039) over the five-year life of this new truck leasing contract."

With fuel prices at an "all time high", Linde product marketing manager Alex Jones says choosing the right materials handling supplier and mix of trucks can deliver significant cost savings.

Twyford's decision to switch to Linde has enabled it to reduce its overall fleet size from 28 to 20 counterbalance and warehouse forklifts. Jones says the Linde internal combustion forklift delivered fuel savings because of its hydrostatic drive technology and the vehicle's overall operation design. The forklifts' fewer moving mechanical parts enable reduced power loss between the engine and truck wheels.

Jones says the forklifts' engine running speed is optimised to fully convert output into travel motion, lowering fuel consumption and reducing carbon emissions. The "simple, precise control" of the Linde hydrostatic drive, with twin-drive pedals and controlled deceleration without conventional brakes, also results in a faster operation.

"At Linde, we have recently enhanced our hydrostatic technology with the introduction of a new Eco Mode setting on Linde engine and electric counterbalance trucks. Eco mode adapts truck speed and acceleration parameters to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% while retaining 90% productivity," Jones says.