 The forklift, nicknamed Linde Challenger HT30, withstood the tests of the harsh climate and tough climbs up mountains at the end of the Tibet Rally. |
The Linde forklift that crossed from Chengdu to Tibet as part of Linde (China)'s 20th anniversary celebrations has completed its 2,208 km journey in 29 days.
Reaching Tibet last Thursday, the forklift not only demonstrated the operational capabilities of a 3T Linde internal combustion model, but promoted environmental awareness and social welfare.
The Tibet Rally, which kicked off on 23 May, received the support of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, Industrial Truck Institute of China Construction Machinery Association (formerly known as China Industrial Truck Association or CITA), Sichuan Province and Chengdu Logistics Association.
From Chengdu, the forklift passed the cities and towns of Ya'an, Kangting, Yajiang, Litang and Batang to journey to the Tibetan counties and prefectures of Mangkam, Bomda, Basoi, Bowo and Nyingchi before reaching its final destination, Lhasa.
Along the way, Linde engineers drove the Linde HT30 at an average speed of 15-20 km/h (9-12 mph.), passing the Ya'an Mengding Mountain, the Kangting Love Song Square, Litang Town, the snow-covered plateau Nyingchi, Ranwu Lake and the dangerous Tongmai natural barrier. It climbed an altitude of 4,298 m (14,101 ft.) at Zheduo Mountain, 4,412 m (14,475 ft.) at The Gaoersi, 4,718 m (15,479 ft.) at Kazila Mountain, 5,008 m (16,430 ft.) at Dongda Mountain and the 5,013 m (16,447 ft.) Mila Mountain.
According to Linde, the forklift, nicknamed Linde Challenger HT30, withstood the tests of the harsh climate and tough climbs up the mountains.
The engineers also visited the Kangting Ganzi Tobacco Logistics Center, the Nyingchi military base and other customers.
To fulfill its corporate social responsibility, the team launched the 1 + N Love Plan public welfare program to benefit students in Tibet's poverty-stricken areas and also donated to Tibet Ranwu Primary School.
On the afternoon of 20 June, Linde held an Efficient Logistics Green Purchasing summit at the Kaiyuan Lhasa Hotel that was attended by guests including representatives of the Tibetan Army, Tibet Airlines and China Post.
CITA secretary Zhang Jie spoke on the Chinese materials handling market and advocated for green logistics at a post-rally event.
Quek Chingpong, CEO of Linde (China), embraced the team, whose members received the Tibet Rally Hero award, while Chen Hailong, CEO from China Records, granted the Linde internal combustion counterbalance forklift 'the largest difference of altitude for forklift driving - Linde challenger HT30' award.
A decade ago, the Linde Trans-China Rally created a Guinness record for the longest forklift journey after a Linde 3 T combustion engine forklift set off from Harbin, China's northernmost city, to the southernmost city of Shenzhen.