A new type of aluminium gas cylinder designed for use with forklift trucks from Brühl-based Propan Rheingas is considerably lighter than conventional steel LPG cylinders. The so-called ‘Gasolite-drive’ aluminium bottle fulfils the technical requirements for aircraft construction and offers about 27 per cent more capacity despite its total weight being reduced by three kilograms to eleven kilograms.

The lightweight construction is particularly beneficial when it comes to warehouse logistics. Gas bottles on forklifts or industrial trucks only need to be replaced significantly less frequently, which leads to considerable savings in time and costs. In addition, there is a novel connecting system that makes the changeover process easier to carry out and quicker.

The lightweight gas cylinders also make it easier to fulfil health and safety requirements because the changeover is now significantly easier and has to be carried out less often. The additional 27 per cent contents mean the capacity suffices for well over a full shift, so that it is no longer necessary to change a cylinder during a shift.

Moreover there is the reduced maintenance effort required, because aluminium does not rust. This means that the gas cylinders are not contaminated by rust – either on the inside or the outside – and pipework and jets no longer become blocked. Furthermore, aluminium’s high thermal conductivity ensures excellent evaporation so that icing can also be excluded. All of these avoid downtimes and expensive visits or transport to the workshop.