The Linde L 10 pallet stacker works in sub-zero temperatures in London's ICEBAR.

ICEBAR London, the UK's first permanent bar made of ice, is using a Linde pallet truck to assist with the pub's seasonal ice refresh and annual bar breakdown and rebuild.

The stacker that is on hire every six months for between three and seven days, makes light work of moving and lifting pallets and large blocks of ice. ICEBAR London, is a franchise of the Ice Hotel chain in Sweden. Based in Mayfair, London, the bar uses ice sourced directly from the River Torne in northern Sweden. The bar operates at minus five degrees centigrade.

Linde South East rental controller Diane Wild says her company started working with the bar in 2008. "The bar is constructed of pure ice blocks, which need to be replaced every six months. Also, once a year, an expert design team from Sweden flies into London to supervise the bar's breakdown, redesign and rebuild."

The procedure normally takes between three and seven days, and requires a specialist materials handling solution.

Wild says Linde's L 10 pallet stacker of 1T capacity offers the benefit of a triplex mast, a key factor for working in confined spaces with low level ceilings. Because the truck mast elevates in three stages, this delivers a maximum lift height before the truck itself gets taller, which is perfect for the ICEBAR's low ceilings.

Being electric powered, the pallet stacker produces zero emissions, another key consideration for working in a food and drink environment. The compact size of the truck also makes it suited for manoeuvring in and out of tight spaces.

ICEBAR London general manager Matt Bourgogne says the Swedish parent company has a long-standing relationship with Linde. "So when it came to our requirements for a truck that could be supplied on short-term loan to work in a low ceiling bar at sub-zero temperatures, the hire of a Linde pallet stacker was an obvious choice."