Linde AG has received an award in Dϋsseldorf, Germany, for its successful technology management in materials handling, the company said in a statement.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) and a "top-class" industrial committee identified five leading companies in the field.

The jury judged around 280 international companies on their selection and development of technology processes and organisation of risk and knowledge management.

Linde's materials handling business segment impressed the jury with its use of cross-brand synergies in component development and its "efficient product creation process".

Linde executive board member Hubertus Krossa said the award confirmed the company's multi-brand strategy.

"It shows that, despite having individual brand identities, Linde, Still and Om Pimespo are able to achieve efficiency gains through cooperation against the competition," Krossa said.

Linde AG's turnover for the 2004 fiscal year was EUR9 billion (USD10.9 billion). Its materials handling business segment, which produces Linde, Still and OM Pimespo forklifts, manufactured and sold 120,000 forklifts last year.

Meanwhile, a Linde AG spokesperson has denied new media reports of merger talks between Linde and UK rival BOC Group.

The reports suggested Linde's industrial gas division would merge with BOC and Linde would spin off its forklift division into an independent company.

The Linde spokesperson told German daily Handelsblatt on June 15 that the reports were pure speculation.