Background Introduction:

Linde (China) Forklift Truck Corp., Ltd. is the manufacturing, sales and technological support base of Linde Material Handling GmbH in Asia, and also is a forklift manufacturer with the largest scale and most advanced technological equipment in current China and the whole Asia. Linde (China) provides whole-series of material handling equipments, professional and timely all-round service and optimized comprehensive solutions, helping the customers to reduce cost and improve the efficiency of material handling. With more than 1600 employees, Linde (China) has established sales and after-sales service network, owning 35 branches, 12 dealers and distributors while covering 73 cities in China. After holding 2007 Linde Cup China Tour, Linde (China) put forward “Green Purchasing Seminar Series” in more than 20 cities to call for sustainable development in the concept of Environment, Health and Safety in 2008, the year in which world-attracted Olympics Games will be held in China, and also the 15th anniversary year for Linde (China)’s establishment..

On this purpose, Chinaforklift.com conducted a special interview to the President Guo Jinpeng (CP Quek) on relevant issues about Green Purchasing Seminar Series.

Chinaforklift.com: Last year, Linde held Linde Cup China Tour, attracting the participation of many manufacturers, creating a Guinness World Record as the forklift contest with the largest scale and entering the evaluation of Guinness World Best Projects. This year, Linde grandly held Green Purchasing Seminar Series. Mr. CP Quek, would you mind introducing us on which consideration is to put forward the seminar and what ways will you adopt?

Mr. CP Quek: Linde always sticks to the customer-oriented concept to propel the industrial and social improvement, trying best to lead in the fields of technology, products and creating profit for the customers. In 2005, we held Linde Forklift Cross China as one Linde forklift was driven from Harbin to Shenzhen, which tells that the quality and performance ratio between Linde domestic and imported forklifts is 1:1.

Last year, we held Linde Cup China Tour together with China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, and the hero of this activity is our customer. We are so pleased to gain active feedback from our customers after they see the forklift operators communicated and learned from each other through our platform. The activity not only stimulated the enthusiasm and improved the technique of forklift operator so as to enhance the logistics efficiency of the customers, but also indirectly stimulate the staff’s enterprising spirit, which truly realized our aim. We can guarantee to provide quality, reliable product and all-around professional service to help the customers improve their operation. The champion team of Linde Cup not only gained the material awards, but also the opportunity to visit and learn in Germany. I believe that this experience will deeply improve them that forklift can also be a “star”. It is our culture and one profound meaning of Linde Cup as to possess excellent performance by keeping forging in the Olympics Spirit of higher, faster and stronger.

The activity this time is also meaningful. 2008 is the year in which world-attracted Olympics Games will be held in China, and it is also the 15^th anniversary year for Linde (China)’s establishment. As the modal enterprise in domestic logistics industry, Linde (China) will transmit the concept of EHS to make EHS—Environment, Health and Safety concept go deep into our mind. As environmental-protection, high efficient and energy-saving is one of the main theme of our Government to search for social healthy and civilization, Linde hope to attract more concerns of society to enable the enterprises pay more attention to the staff, energy-saving and emission-reduction as well as the harmony among human, nature and enterprises at the same time as they develop economic profit. This is a long-term and hard task, and this is also the common responsibility and obligation of all the enterprises.

Linde (China) will hold “Green Purchasing Seminar Series” and mutual activities in many large and medium-sized cities in China from May to November. This activity covers broadly in more than 20 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Suzhou and Guangzhou to popularize the EHS and Green Purchasing concept. This activity covers broadly and is another achievement after 2007 Linde Cup China Tour.  

Chinaforklift.com: Linde has a history of 15 years in China. As the leading enterprise of domestic logistic industry, what’s the special meaning of Linde to put forward EHS management and Green Purchasing concept?

Mr. CP Quek: We have actually paid out attention on EHS, and the design and development of Linde’s forklift have also accorded with EHS concept. However, it’s not mature to popularize EHS. As the Government and the society concerned more and more on environment, we saw the opportunity to put forward EHS to erect an example in the industry and feed back to the society by holding this activity. As for material handling industry, protecting environment is responsible for the society, while healthy and safety is responsible for all the staff and their family. Moreover, the proposal of green purchasing can effectively propel us to develop eco-friendly and energy-saving products, which is the development direction of Linde (China) as well as the tendency of industrial development.

Chinaforklift.com: What’s the specific representation of EHS on your products?

Mr. CP Quek: We have integrated EHS concept together with our products. In terms of environmental protection, as nearly 80% of demanded forklifts in China are ICE trucks while only 20% are for electric forklifts, we have tried out best to propel forklifts using clean energy such as electricity. Besides, Linde used engines meeting the requirements of Euro Stage IIIA emission standard, reducing 40% emission of diesel forklift. We have stick to use energy-saving static driving system with higher driving efficient to reduce energy consumption.

The key of forklift operation is to release the labor intensity of drivers so as to reduce their fatigue to the greatest extent. Linde used unique double stamping operation system and centralized (or fingertip) operating lever on its counterweight forklifts, reducing 50% movements than the regular models. Fully adopting Man-machine Engineering Theory in the design, Linde stand-on pallet handling truck T20SP uses 45°stand-on driving design, preventing the over-fatigue of necks and waists of the drivers. Widely-used shock absorption technology on the forklifts has also greatly improved the working environment.

Safety First Principle has been gone through with the design process. We use computer assistant design and finite element analysis to analyze the structure and strength of the parts, and test them in bad conditions to ensure the strength and stability of each part. We gave priority to safety on configuration as all-wheel drive (reach forklift), auto brake (ICE forklift) and end cushion are all standard deployment providing for the customers.

EHS concept has deeply combined with our products, which is one of the factors we lead the industry and is well-recognized by our customers.

Chinaforklift.com: Linde has been enthused in public welfare. Is there any public welfare recently? Meanwhile, our society is on the way of reliving the 5.12 earthquake disaster. What measures does Linde (China) take?

Mr. CP Quek: We have participated in many disaster relief activities, such as donating to India Tsunami; donating to assist needed students in Xiamen and so on.

We felt sorrow about this Wenchuan Earthquake. We extended our regards to the staff from Sichuan and their relatives; organized the employees to donate materials and capital. The company also added the same sum as the staff’s donation, partially to help the colleagues while partially sending to Sichuan Red Cross by me. Furthermore, the staff in Linde (China) Chengdu Branch actively took part in the relief activities to assist send materials to Hanwang Town. We prepared forklifts ready to assist the relief at any time. We believe our country will overcome the disaster once we united together and made our contribution without hesitation.

Chinaforklift.com: Mr. CP Quek, how do you regard your honorable title of Xiamen Economy Top Ten Influence Characters?

Mr. CP Quek: Other 9 winners of Xiamen Economy Top Ten Influence Characters are all managers from state-owned units or entrepreneurs of civil-owned enterprises with sound financial force and excellent competent, contributing a lot to the development of economy and society in Xiamen. As the only one manager from a foreign enterprise, I’m so proud to get this title. Thank to the recognition and trust of Xiamen people. The affirmation is not only to me, but also to the managers in trans-national enterprises and professional manager, while this honor also belongs to all the staff of Linde (China), who has strived together with me shoulder to shoulder.

About Linde (China)

Linde (China) Forklift Truck Corp., Ltd., the Asian base of Linde Forklift Truck was established in Dec. 1993 with a total investment of RMB 1.7 billion, which is the biggest forklift truck manufacturer in China with advanced technology. Since entering China, Linde has developed a comprehensive network of sales and service providing advanced materials handling equipment and professional service. Linde provides the best solutions to improve material handling efficiency and reduce costs.