Kion, the parent of Linde Material Handling, has signed a long term supply agreement with Konecranes.
Konecranes will buy certain assets of the container handling lift truck business of Linde Material Handling.
The two groups will collaborate to increase the competitiveness of their respective container handling truck activities.
Both companies will keep reach stackers, empty container handlers and laden container handlers in their offering but after a period of time all manufacturing will take place in Konecranes factories.
Last week, Kion announced that it was consulting on the future of its heavy forklift plant at Merthyr Tydfil.
Brian Butler, managing director of Linde Material Handling’s Heavy Trucks Division, said: “We are happy to work together with Konecranes. This global collaboration with one of the leaders in this segment will significantly improve our container handling offerings to the customers of the Linde brand.”
Under the deal, the assets acquired by Konecranes from Linde Material Handling include the respective product rights. In addition, Konecranes will get access to Linde Material Handling’s distribution network. The collaboration improves economies of scale in R&D and manufacturing while enabling both companies to continue to offer container handling trucks to their distribution channels.