The Linde Group has posted a record EUR9 billion (USD7.782 billion) in sales for 2001, an increase of 7.4 percent.

Materials handling sales grew seven percent to EUR3.158 billion (USD2.738 billion) and boosted its world market share from 18.5 percent to 20 percent. Orders received rose 2.2 percent to EUR3.193 billion (USD2.761 billion).

The Linde Group employs 46,400 people worldwide and has a broad range of activities extending from gas (Linde is the fourth-largest gas company in the world) and engineering to refrigeration and materials handling.

Linde materials handling group runs a multibrand strategy, offering a complete range of forklift and warehouse trucks and services.

Linde includes Fenwick-Linde in France, Lansing in the United Kingdom, Linde-Baker in the USA, Linde-Xiamen in China, OM Pimespo in Italy, and Still, also in Germany. The Still group markets the Still, Still Saxby and Still Wagner brands.