Greater safety and higher picking speeds thanks to improved visibility during order picking. The vehicle concept of Linde Material Handling's N20 low-lift order picker truck should enable ergonomic, flexible and safe order picking.
Driving to the rack, getting out of the truck, picking products from the racks, placing them on the pallet, getting back into the truck - and on to the next picking position: manually picking orders is one of the most labour-intensive, fragmented tasks in goods handling. The latest generation N20 low-lift order picker truck from Linde Material Handling improves these work tasks all at once. "The vehicle optimally supports the order picker in all subtasks," says Eloïse Lévêque, product manager at Linde Material Handling.
Vehicle layout
This is made possible by a vehicle layout that has proven itself over the past 20 years: in the Linde N20, the driver stands in front of the battery, which gives him a number of advantages over the conventional version where the driver stands behind the battery. For example, it gives the driver a more direct and therefore better forward view and this enhances safety.
This design principle should also offer advantages in manoeuvrability: the driver's area in front makes it easier to manoeuvre the truck through narrow aisles and past obstacles. "This increases safety while enabling faster operations and higher picking speeds," says expert Lévêque. The driver himself is protected by a massive, cast-steel front bumper.
Unique to the new Linde N20 is the fully sprung operator compartment that reduces the physical load on the driver. An advanced damping technology absorbs vibrations and shocks that would otherwise negatively affect operator performance and health. "We have managed to reduce driver exposure to vibrations transmitted through the steering wheel and operating platform by about 30 per cent," Lévêque said.
In addition, other new ergonomic features include a rounded backrest, padded knee protection and a height-adjustable steering wheel. The travel switches can be operated on both sides with thumbs and index fingers, and the "up" and "down" functions via a switch above the backrest. "This way, the driver automatically looks in the right direction while lifting the forks, which is a crucial factor for safety," says product manager Lévêque. She adds that Linde Curve Assist for automatic cornering speed adjustment is fitted as standard and the Linde BlueSpot can be integrated into the chassis front as an option.
Range of customised models
Because picking applications can differ fundamentally, Linde offers a wide range of variants for the new series. A total of ten versions are available, all of which feature a lift function. The Linde N20 B, N20 and N25 or N20/N25 HP models are designed for transporting goods at horizontal level. The Linde N16 Li allows the operator to lift the load up to a height of 790 mm.
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