The installation of AW fast chargers at the Faurecia Automotive plant.

Aker Wade has marked a milestone in the company's history after delivering its 14,000th fast charge port this month.

When Aker Wade introduced dedicated forklift fast charging in 2004, it expected to sell 1,000 ports per year, recalls Bret Aker, chief sales officer and co-founder of Aker Wade Power Technologies.

"When we realised that demand throughout North America was outpacing our forecasts, we decided that it was time to offer this proven technology to international customers; and we opened Aker Wade Europe in 2011 specifically to serve that market."

The company, which claims to be the fastest-growing producer of forklift fast chargers, has delivered a TwinMAX 15 kW model for its fast charge port number 14,000. According to Aker Wade, the TwinMAX, which was introduced in 2008, increases the appeal of fast charging by providing two fast charge ports in one unit, simplifying installation and reducing infrastructure costs.

Fast charge port number 14,000 was delivered to plant manager Carlos Pires from Faurecia Automotive near Oporto, Portugal. Faurecia is the world's sixth-largest automotive supplier, and produces car seats and car accessories at its two plants near Oporto.

Faurecia currently operates over 25 Aker Wade fast chargers that supply power to around 50 electric trucks.

Francisco Sanchez, a product manager from Linde Material Handling Ibrica, Aker Wade's dealer for Spain and Portugal, says the fast charging systems supplier's experience and success in North America had made it easy to integrate the technology with the rest of the Linde line of products and services.

Michiel Hendriksz, managing director of Aker Wade Europe, adds: "Delivering fast charge port number 14,000 to a European customer was particularly satisfying. In North America, fast charging is a proven technology. With our partnership with Linde and our success within the automotive industry and other multinational customers, we're ready to bring the benefits of fast charging to customers throughout Europe."

Aker Wade Power Technologies designs and manufactures advanced fast charging systems for electric vehicles and industrial forklifts. Founded in 2000, Aker Wade claims to be the
leading provider of fast charging technology for Fortune 1,000 companies, servicing customers in the US, Europe and Asia.