Linde is offering an optional elevating cabin for its heavy forklifts.

Linde Material Handling has begun offering an optional elevating cabin for its heavy forklifts.

Available for trucks in the load capacity range from 10 - 18 T, the new solution allows the cabin to be raised steplessly to a maximum height of 5.5 meters in less than 10 seconds.

In this high position, the driver has an unobstructed view of the load and can drive forwards as usual. The elevating cabin is especially beneficial when it comes to the stacking as well as the storage and retrieval of heavy goods, or when placing them into small loading docks, such as aircraft side loading doors.

Linde points out that German accident prevention instructions stipulate that "the driver should reverse if ... a forklift truck is used to take and move a large load that blocks the view of the drive lane. Since the load cannot be kept in sight when driving backwards, the driver should refrain from reversing when loads protrude laterally beyond the forklift truck. Frequent reversing should be avoided, since the torsion effect will excessively burden the driver's spine- especially in conjunction with vibrations."

With the new elevating cabin, drivers can avoid reversing if the view in the direction of travel is obstructed and will not be tempted to illicitly move forks and load above eye level in order to see their way underneath it and drive forwards. The elevating cabin means they can work more ergonomically and efficiently, as driving forwards is much safer and faster, particularly over longer distances. Moreover, the risk of collision damage caused by loads protruding laterally beyond the truck is minimised.

The elevating cabin can be operated via a separate joystick or via four preset position buttons that can be individually programmed to a specific height. The cabin elevates at 0.24 m/s and can reach its maximum height of 5.5 m in less than 10 seconds. This position is ideal for allowing a full range of vision even when transporting long, bulky and heavy goods.

Automatic speed limiting, corresponding to the cabin height, ensures safe operation. The maximum speed of travel can also be reduced via the default settings.

Linde heavy trucks are also available with a rotating cabin as an alternative to the elevating cabin. Here the driver can rotate the entire cabin by 180 degrees, so that the load is behind him and he therefore has an unobstructed view of the drive direction. In addition, he can select any intermediate angles and view areas.

These rotatable cabins have been developed for Linde electric forklifts in the load capacity range of 2.5 to 5 T and combustion-engine Linde trucks in the load range from 2 to 8 T.