£16 million investment at Merthyr Tydfil plant

Investment will be focused on the development of new trucks, extending the infrastructure, modernizing machinery at the plant, and staff training. The initiative of Linde Material Handling aims at further increasing the share of Linde Heavy Trucks in a rapidly growing market, driven by the increase of world trade. Gordon Riske, CEO of Linde Material Handling and COO of KION Group, said: “Our mid-term goal is to become the world–wide number two in the container truck business. Merthyr Tydfil will be key to achieving this goal and we are committed to the long-term growth of the plant. By combining the highly skilled workforce we have there with significant financial investment, I am sure that the Linde heavy truck division will go from strength to strength.” Kerry McDonagh, CEO of Linde Material Handling UK, added: “I am delighted that Merthyr Tydfil will be the centre of our heavy truck division. From 2003 to 2006, we doubled the annual sales of heavy trucks from less than 200 to 400 trucks per year. Our goal is to again double heavy truck sales by 2011. The skill, experience and commitment of the workforce at Merthyr Tydfil will play a big part in achieving this.”