Linde Material Handling is bringing its revolutionary CiTi Truck into market in June 2010 — a truck that makes light work of delivering goods over the last kilometer. With a minimum of exertion, the operator can move loads of up to 500 kilograms over considerable distances and manoeuvre in the tightest spaces with comfort and safety. Even verges and kerbs can be negotiated with ease.

The futuristic Linde CiTi Truck introduces a new model classification between hand pallet trucks and electric pallet trucks. It offers a superbly innovative solution to the growing numbers of deliveries direct to city centres. Traffic routing, narrow streets and obstructions caused by parking spaces or kerbs hinder the delivery of supplies to businesses, restaurants, workshops and supermarkets.

Hand pallet trucks, which make significant physical demands on the operator, are usually employed for the final stages of delivery. To transfer the goods from the delivery lorry to their destination, the operator must first raise the forks by repeatedly "pumping" the tiller. The heavy loads then have to be pulled and pushed over long distances using muscle power alone, and the road surface is seldom even. In addition, there are kerbs, ramps or verges over which the load must be moved.

The Linde CiTi Truck eliminates the manual effort and makes light work of these demanding tasks. The lightweight yet robust CiTi Truck removes the strain and stress from the operator thanks to the electric traction and lift motors, combined with the unique load and drive wheel configuration and ergonomic tiller controls.

The Linde CiTi Truck enables faster deliveries and lorry turnarounds for higher productivity and lower supply chain costs.

The compact Linde CiTi Truck is suitable for both smaller consignments and palletised loads of up to 500 kilograms. The tubular structural design of this robust yet lightweight truck results in a service weight of less than 100 kilograms.

The CiTi Truck effortlessly negotiates obstacles such as kerbs or verges of up to 70 mm high. This is due to the unique and innovative wheels, which are designed specifically for this purpose. The large, rubber tyred drive wheel and the two pivot-mounted rear load wheels enables the CiTi Truck to travel over obstacles. In addition, the wheels and rollers minimise noise, a real plus for residents when making early morning deliveries to city centres. Thanks to the lift motor ramps with gradients of up to 8 percent can also be negotiated with ease.

The wheel hub motor, which is integrated into the front wheel, raises the load located on the fork arms at the touch of a button, saving the operator the effort of pumping. The motor is powered by a 36-volt, max. 15-amp nickel metal hydride battery, which is rated for up to two hours of continuous operation. In practical terms, this is equivalent to being in service for an entire day. The battery can be replaced in under a minute. The operator simply releases the battery connector, removes the compact, lightweight battery from its rack using the pull handle and inserts a fully-charged battery.

The truck is controlled by the "easyControl" two-way roll pad, which is integrated into the tiller head. The travel direction, lift/lower buttons and horn, are ergonomically grouped for ease of use. The emergency stop button is located on the component cover for rapid actuation. The emergency stop switch can also be used as an immobiliser by turning the cap on the button and then removing it. This isolates the electrics and prevents unauthorized use of the CiTi Truck.

The electromagnetic brake, which is activated as soon as the tiller is released, enhances safety on loading ramps and gradients.

The Linde CiTi Truck is the ideal solution for general deliveries and parcel services. A study of typical daily delivery routes revealed that operators had to lift the fork arms some 70 times throughout the day, and moved an average of 22 pallets or 2.4 tonnes over a distance of 2.5 kilometres.

This is where the new CiTi Truck technology comes in, helping to eliminate physical stress and strain and significantly reducing supply chain costs with a faster, safer operation.