“There has never been a better time to invest in the automation of material flow processes,” says Ulrike Just, Executive Vice President Sales & Services Linde MH EMEA and the event’s host. “The systems have become much easier to use and more cost-effective, while project planning and implementation times have been significantly reduced. This facilitates getting started with automation and generates opportunities for enhanced competitiveness. For companies with existing experience in automation, it also offers the opportunity to actively participate in the development of new technologies with Linde MH as a partner,” she explains.
“Our teams provide comprehensive support to companies every step of the way – from initial consultation to project planning and implementation, and even after commissioning during ongoing operations.”
A holistic portfolio approach
Linde MH has redesigned key products in its portfolio over the past two years. This includes (counterbalanced) pallet stackers, reach truck and VNA truck models, all of which have been upgraded to an industrial series standard. In conjunction with AMRs, shuttle solutions, stationary automation, and racking systems, this provides a comprehensive, modular toolkit that can be used to plan and implement a wide variety of customer projects with pinpoint precision. At the same time, it is possible to produce tailor-made products to meet specific customer requirements.
New vehicle developments are already underway. A notable highlight of the Linde Automation Summit was the innovative Linde RoCaP, which marks a breakthrough in automated order picking in warehouses. Representatives from Linde MH and the drugstore chain ROSSMANN introduced the vehicle together. Based on the automated pallet stacker Linde L-MATIC HD k, the vehicle additionally features an intelligent robotic arm that is permanently attached to the fork carriage. It lifts packages from the rack and places them on the load carrier. Customized load-bearing equipment for use with roll containers was developed specifically for applications at ROSSMANN. Since the Linde RoCaP can work side by side with manually operated industrial trucks, it is ideal for use in inventory warehouses. At ROSSMANN, it eases the workload on warehouse employees, especially when it comes to picking heavy containers. But what is shown in this project also is that challenges sometimes come from unexpected directions. While the RoCaP is able to choose the best box to pick from a pallet and also to choose from different grippers for a task it still needs human assistance to handle and extract the slip sheets on a pallet dividing the different product layers.
Another highlight of the event was a preview of the company’s first automated counterbalanced forklift truck. The Linde E-MATIC, designed for outdoor use, is scheduled to be released in 2027. The robust vehicle offers a load capacity of 2.3 tons, side shifting capabilities, a lithium-ion battery, and extensive navigation and safety technologies. It will initially be used for horizontal transport between drop-off points on the ground or stationary conveyor systems. As early as 2026, pre-series projects will commence with a select group of customers, whose experiences will contribute directly to further development and series maturity. As the Linde E-MATIC progresses through its development stages, it will be equipped to handle an expanded range of tasks, including navigation between indoor and outdoor environments, traversing larger inclines, and managing the storage and retrieval of goods from racks or block warehouses. Additionally, it will be capable of performing lateral loading and unloading operations for trucks.
“With the introduction of the first counterbalanced forklift, we have successfully automated the core product of our Linde brand,” stated Ulrike Just “Our objective is to be the first major industrial truck manufacturer to put the vehicle into series production. This comes as a direct response to the numerous requests we have received from our customers, and it further solidifies our claim to be the technology leader in our industry.”
AI as an automation accelerator
Linde MH is advancing automation not only with regard to vehicle development. The company also showcased the next steps in implementing physical AI and digital twins based on MEGA, the NVIDIA Omniverse for industrial applications. This included the real-time integration of a digital twin in the NVIDIA Omniverse, which connects a company's AGV fleet manager with a physical AGV. Participants at the event could see on screen how every action of the AGV – navigation, load handling, etc. – is mirrored simultaneously in the Omniverse environment, enabling real-time monitoring, simulation and optimization of logistics processes.
In addition, it is now possible to generate high-resolution 360° images using 3D laser scans, thereby creating a digital, three-dimensional map of factory or warehouse layouts. Similar to Google Street View (driving through streets in a car), an operator walks through the facility, wearing a shoulder-mounted frame equipped with high-speed LiDAR scanners using SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology. The device precisely captures the environment, creating a three-dimensional image of reality. The entire process takes no longer than 40 to 60 minutes.
In NVIDIA Omniverse, a digital twin of the site is created with the help of the 3D scan. The 3D visualization provides precise measurements, including distances between shelves, distances between two points, and the floor slope along designated routes. This reliable basis for planning eliminates the need for further on-site visits. All project participants can then work together on the modeled, realistic image and share information, such as marking critical areas in the warehouse, adding comments, and noting suggested solutions. In recent months, the portable laser has already been used to create a dozen scans at various locations throughout Europe.
Software ensures flexibility
MATIC:move the Linde MK software suite, enables faster, cost-effective automation with intuitive operation and visual workflow design based on the low-code principle, cutting commissioning time from weeks to days. For complex needs, MATIC:move+ adds interfaces, advanced functions, and intelligent traffic control, ensuring flexibility and scalability from single vehicles to large mixed fleets. Integration with third-party vehicles and systems is possible via Linde Warehouse Manager and the integrated VDA-5050 standard, delivering transparency and full control.
All Linde MH automation solutions prioritize safety with redundant systems, advanced sensors, and features like side-mounted red warning lights. This ensures smooth interaction between manual and automated processes while maintaining high throughput.
