Even if most people primarily think of the chemical or pharmaceutical industry when it comes to explosion-protected industrial trucks, they play an important role in many other industries. These include, for example, the production of food and beverages and the recycling of valuable materials. Explosive atmospheres occur in a wide variety of areas. Surprisingly for many, this also includes whisky distilleries. This is because the spirit, which is prized by connoisseurs, is a highly flammable liquid and therefore no sparks may be emitted from the industrial trucks used when handling goods. The same applies to the manufacture of products made of aluminum or aluminum alloys. The risk here is posed by conductive, combustible dusts that can accumulate and explode due to ignition sources such as friction or impact sparks. The pressure wave caused by the explosion can whirl up dust elsewhere, leading to a chain reaction with "secondary explosions".

New assistance systems for ATEX zones 1 and 2

However, many companies now apply high standards for operational safety not only in explosion-protected areas, but also for the entire internal material flow. Forklift functions or assistance systems that can prevent accidents are in demand. These include, for example, LED lighting solutions such as the Linde BlueSpot. It alerts pedestrians or other forklift drivers to approaching vehicles by projecting a blue dot onto the floor. The range of assistance systems has also grown considerably, such as the Linde Safety Guard for automatic speed reduction in areas with heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The Linde Reverse and Front Assist Camera is the first system for personnel detection in hazardous areas. The solution is available for counterbalance trucks from the 12xx series in ATEX zones 1/21 and 2/22 and can be retrofitted to address one of the main causes of accidents involving forklift trucks in warehouses: reversing. Particular caution is required whenever goods are being stored and retrieved in block storage or racking, or trucks are being loaded and unloaded. This is where the Linde Reverse Assist Camera comes in. It was developed with the help of artificial intelligence and has "learned" to distinguish between people and objects when obstacles appear at the rear of the truck. If it detects a person at a defined angle around the camera, a multi-stage warning system is triggered: the driver is alerted to the potential danger both visually and via an acoustic signal. The Linde Reverse Assist Camera is fully integrated into the vehicle display so that the driver can easily keep an eye on the display without restricting the view with an additional screen. In addition, an automatic reduction in driving speed can be activated to further minimize the risk of accidents. By only targeting particularly critical collisions with people, the algorithm prevents drivers from becoming blunted and eventually becoming immune to the warning signals. It is also possible to link the Reverse Assist Camera with other assistance systems in potentially explosive areas. These include, for example, Linde Safety Guard, a modular system that focuses on a whole range of causes of accidents in warehouses and production, including inappropriate speed, inattention, busy warehouse and production areas with people and forklift traffic or poorly visible, narrow intersections, rack aisles and walkways.

Another new feature is the integration of the Pre-Op(erational) Check into the explosion-proof display. This function, which is available for all Linde electric counterbalance trucks, eliminates the need for an additional explosion-proof device, such as a cell phone. Using the app, the operator checks, confirms and documents before his shift that the truck is in a safe and proper condition. The digital solution replaces manual documentation with pen and paper and also acts as access control, as the vehicle can only be started with its full range of functions once the driver has completed the query. Fleet managers can individually configure which parameters are queried and monitored. There is a choice of up to 50 safety-relevant criteria.

New industrial trucks for use in hazardous areas

The app is available right from the start for the new Linde E40 - E50 EX forklift trucks for ATEX zone 2/22. In these areas, an explosive atmosphere is unlikely to occur during normal operation, and if it does, then only for a short period of time. The advantages of the large electric counterbalance trucks, such as performance thanks to synchronous reluctance motors or the pleasant working environment with a good view of the load and working environment, are now also available in the explosion-proof version. Another new explosion-protected truck is the Linde L10 to L16 B EX high lift truck. The compact pedestrian trucks with a load capacity range of 1.0 to 1.6 tons and lifting heights of up to 5.47 meters are designed for a wide range of transport tasks. Thanks to their short design, they are also suitable for handling in narrow aisles and loading zones as well as production supply or shelf loading.

What all explosion-proof Linde industrial trucks have in common is their close proximity to the standard trucks. In the case of the explosion-protected high lift trucks, this includes the ergonomic tiller head or the long tiller arm, which keeps the operator at a safe distance from the truck. The deep-drawn chassis also ensures safety during use, as it prevents the operator's feet from getting under the steel apron and becoming trapped. The same applies to the optional "active foot protection bar". It registers contact and automatically brakes the vehicle or, in another version, actively moves away from the operator in the event of contact.

High vehicle availability

A high level of vehicle availability is particularly important in explosion protection, as it is not possible to replace them with standard devices. The Ex monitoring app is available to prevent failures as far as possible. It provides status monitoring and gives the driver recommendations for action if faults occur. It also monitors safety-critical wearing parts and, in this case, provides proactive information about necessary maintenance to prevent downtime. Maintenance is carried out by specially trained technicians from the close-knit Linde-MH service network, and spare parts are usually supplied within one day. The vehicles are serviced and repaired directly at the customer's premises using a dedicated tool box.