Linde Roadster claims first prize

Linde MH wins readers‘ poll ’materialfluss PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2026‘ in ’Industrial Trucks' category’

Linde Material Handling (MH) has won the ‘materialfluss PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2026’ reader's award in the ‘Industrial Trucks’ category with its unique Linde Xi Roadster electric forklift. The truck's innovative design eliminates the need for A-pillars, offering exceptional visibility.

As in previous years, competition was fierce. Pelemedia GmbH nominated a total of 32 products and projects in five categories for the award. From the beginning of December 2025 to the end of January 2026, experts from a wide range of industries were invited to vote for their favorites in an online poll. Linde Material Handling competed in the ‘Industrial Trucks’ category with the Roadster version of its new range of electric forklifts with lifting capacities up to and including 2.0 tons. There were six other nominees in this category, which includes innovations in forklifts, logistics trains, pallet trucks, attachments, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

The winners were honored at a ceremony in Munich on March 5. Richard Bozem, Senior Strategy and Portfolio Manager at Linde Material Handling, accepted the award for ‘PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2026’ in the Industrial Trucks category on behalf of Linde MH. Bozem enthusiastically said, “This recognition goes to all the employees at Linde MH who worked with great passion and dedication to develop this exceptional truck.” The excellent result in Materialfluss 2026's reader survey reflects the positive customer feedback Linde MH has received since the launch of the Linde Xi Roadster last year.

Better visibility increases safety and productivity

The Linde Xi14 to Xi20 R models are offered as three- and four-wheelvariants and all feature the overhead tilt cylinders for which Linde is known. In addition to the lack of A-pillars, which creates better visibility, other design features also contribute to improved visibility. These include a lowered front window for better fork visibility, slim B-pillars to facilitate reversing and an optional panoramic reinforced glass roof. At the same time, the design meets the highest requirements for protecting the operator from falling objects. Another strong point is the optional Linde Steer Control, which replaces the standard steering wheel with a mini steering wheel or joystick. This results in even better visibility and ergonomic benefits. All these features provide greater safety during driving and lifting and are the basis for more efficient and productive operations.

Many other benefits

The Linde Xi Roadster models are based on the standard version of the new electric forklift series and feature an integrated lithium-ion battery. This ensures compact truck dimensions and a spacious cab with ample leg and headroom, as well as a generous step for comfortable entry and exit. In addition, the powerful, energy-efficient synchronous reluctance motors meet stringent performance requirements and offer high residual carrying capacity. A wide range of equipment options is available to tailor the trucks to individual needs. In addition, the Linde Xi Roadster models are designed for maximum serviceability, which has a positive effect on costs and durability.