Linde Material Handling has once again scooped one of the world’s most coveted product design prizes. The “red dot design award” has been awarded to the eight tonne load capacity Linde H80/1100 diesel truck which can now also carry the title “product design 2008”

The red dot design awards started in 1955 and now is one of the biggest and most prestigious design competitions in the world. It attracts over 10,000 entries every year and the jurors are all renowned designers and design experts from across the globe. The award itself stands as a seal of quality and membership of the best in design and business. Past winners include Mercedes-Benz, Apple, Sony, Nokia and Adidas.

This year’s red dot judges confirmed the design excellence achieved by the two designers for the Linde truck, Stefan Stark and Michael Mauer from Porsche AG, and praised the particularly high level of creativity, innovation and quality demonstrated by the product.

The award-winning truck from Linde Material Handling was chosen for a range of technical innovations that allow the driver to enjoy even more comfortable and ergonomical working conditions. The external design of the truck visually combines the defining attributes of agility, dynamics and efficiency, while the overall design boasts extreme comfort, precision operation and low operational noise.

“Winning an award in a prestigious international design competition is a major indication whether a product has the potential to survive on the international market”, said Professor Dr Peter Zec, founder of the “red dot design award”.

In the last few years, Linde Material Handling has won a “red dot design award” five times: in 2005 for the T20 SP - T24 SP electric pallet truck (best of the best); in 2006 for the H100 - H180 diesel and LPG truck; in 2007 for the E12 - E20 electric lift truck and the K combination truck; and this year for the H50 to H80 / 1100 diesel and LPG truck family.