In line with their globalisation strategy aimed at international growth markets, Linde Material Handling GmbH (LMH) aims to extend its Service and Sales networks in Russia and central Asia. LMH is also planning to take over the business of its Russian dealership Liftec, which has been exclusively responsible for sales and support for Linde products in Russia thus far.

Theodor Maurer, Linde MH's CEO, explains the targets: "Linde has been working successfully with Liftec in Russia for about 20 years now — the takeover will give the Linde brand better, more direct access to the growth potential in the Russian market. This will give Linde its own Sales and Service structure in the future." Liftec currently employs around 180 highly qualified people. Over the next few years, Linde aims to consistently build up its Sales and Service team in order to guarantee more intensive customer support.

Christophe Lautray, Sales Managing Director at LMH, explained the current status of the deal to representatives of the economy, politics and the media at CeMAT Moscow: "Negotiations are largely complete and we have outlined a master agreement with the owners of Liftec." Once the contract has been signed by both parties, it will first be checked by the Russian anti-trust authorities before the agreement can come into effect ("Closing").

Lautray explains the growth strategy for the European leader in the forklift market by saying "we see real growth potential for Linde in the Russian and central Asian markets, and we want to leverage this by introducing products and services which are specially tailored to the needs of these markets."

With more than 12,000 new vehicles sold in the first six months of 2011, Russia already represents the fifth-largest market for forklift trucks in Europe. Compared to the same period the previous year, demand has doubled thanks to the dynamic growth in Russia's economy as a whole. "In addition to the Russian market, Linde will also be working harder to tap into the markets in the Ukraine and Kazakhstan, which will involve taking over operations at two further Liftec divisions," explained Jens Menneke, Area Manager of eastern Europe, who will be working with the future management team of Sergey Markin in Sales and Elena Tolkacheva in Finance to achieve these ambitious objectives.

In terms of products, Linde MH is focusing not only on warehouse trucks, but also on internal combustion counterbalance trucks and electric drives, as well as on heavy-duty trucks and reach stackers for container handling. Menneke explains that "none of our competitors have the same bandwidth," when it comes to Linde's product portfolio, going on to say that Linde sets the benchmark in nearly all product segments in terms of performance and economics. At the same time, the aim is to produce special Service and Finance packages to make it easier for customers to opt for Linde products.

Linde Material Handling GmbH, with its company head offices in Aschaffenburg, is one of the leading global manufacturers of forklift trucks and warehouse trucks and is also one of the most important producers of hydrostatic and electric drives, which are used both in their own forklifts as well as in construction, agricultural and forestry machinery. Linde Material Handling GmbH is part of the KION Group, the market leader for forklift trucks in Europe and in second position worldwide. Linde Material Handling employs around 12,500 people across the world and achieved an annual turnover of approx. EUR 2.25 billion in 2010.