Sichelschmidt supplies the Linde Group with EX-protected trucks.

Global industrial gases giant the Linde Group has ordered 12 bespoke electric pallet trucks which meet Explosion Group II C directives from German specialist manufacturer Sichelschmidt GmbH Material Handling.

Sichelschmidt claims to have pioneered the design and manufacture of a truck that can operate in areas where hydrogen and acetylene are present.

Previously, users were limited to using EX-protected trucks which had to undergo a series of protracted additional testing in order to be declared fit for purpose.

The volatile nature of acetylene and hydrogen means that they fall into the highest Explosion Group II C category, with acetylene being particularly prone to ignite. In conjunction with air or oxygen, it becomes inflammable in very broad concentration levels.

Acetylene is widely used in welding and cutting operations and hydrogen is set to play an ever-increasing role as an energy carrier in the automotive vehicle sector.

When decanting the gases into commercial containers such as gas bottles, electric pallet trucks are considered to be the handling solution which offers the best operational flexibility.

After detailed discussions to determine Linde Group's requirements and with regard to ATEX guidelines, it quickly became clear that the way forward was a complete redesign. Director Ralf Sichelschmidt explains: "In the past, we have received numerous enquiries from the gas and chemical sectors for a specialist truck of this nature, but the development costs to supply just one unit were too high to contemplate. The order of 12 trucks, however, made this a commercially viable undertaking."

The d125 compact electric pallet truck was used as a basis for the new model which features Sichelschmidt's high-performance AC drive, developed in-house to offer "high levels of productivity and quick turnaround alongside low energy consumption".

Other new features include an EX-compliant electric AC motor, a new housing for the control system as well as specific measures taken by Sichelschmidt to address mechanical explosion protection. The optimised forks are a further innovation on the Linde trucks. With just two length variants, up to 10 differing types of containers can be lifted and transported.

Deliveries of the trucks are being rolled out to Linde production facilities across Germany to ensure the highest levels of safety in this exacting EX category environment.

The first orders have been delivered to the Linde Group's Hydrogen Competence Centre north of Munich, with the remaining machines shortly to be operational at various Linde Group acetylene works and hydrogen filling plants. Five of the trucks have also been fitted with mobile weighing systems from Mettler-Toledo, which are certified according to Ex Zone 1/Explosion Group II C.