Document 5Dnw08XR6QDG6xO9e08wO0ZM5

KION GROUP Page 1 KION GROUP do LINDE Material Handling Italia S.p.a. I Via del Luguzzone 3 I 21020 Buguggiate I Italy Contribution to PFAS consultation submitted by Dr. Sebastian Mueller (KION Group) on behalf of Angelo Zanotti, Managing Director Contact for questions: kionctroun.corn Consultation on the restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 1. Which PFAS substance including CAS-Nr. 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane CAS-Nr.: 811-97-2 2. Request for Transitional period 12 years transition period for refrigerants used in material handling products. 3. About KION Group The KION Group is with over 41.000 employees and an annual revenue of 11 billion Euro among the world's leading suppliers of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions. Its portfolio encompasses industrial trucks, such as forklift trucks and warehouse trucks, as well as integrated automation technology and software solutions for the optimization of supply chains, including all related services. Across more than 100 countries worldwide, the KION Group's logistics solutions improve the flow of material and information within factories, warehouses, and distribution centers. The KION Group, which is included in the MDAX, is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks in Europe Page 2 in terms of units sold in 2020. It is also the leading provider of warehouse automation, as measured by revenue in 2019. The following brands belong to KION Group: The KION Group's world-renowned brands are well established. Measured by revenue in 2019, Dematic is the global leader in warehouse automation, providing a broad range of intelligent supply chain and automation solutions. The Linde and STILL brands serve the premium and higher value segments of the industrial truck market. Baoli focuses on industrial trucks in the lower value and economy segments. In 2020, the regional industrial truck brand Fenwick was one of the leading suppliers of material handling products in France, while OM is among the leading vendors in the Indian market. With an installed base of more than 1.6 million industrial trucks and over 6,000 installed systems as at December 31, 2020, the KION Group's customers include companies of various sizes in numerous industries on six continents. 4. Information about used PFAS substances (as such / in products) 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R134a) is component used in many refrigeration systems. It is also a propellant for aerosol and a blowing agent for extruded polystyrene foams. 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane has a great chemical and thermal stability, low toxicity and is non-flammable, besides having an excellent compatibility with most materials. It is widely used in mobile machinery air conditioners. Page 3 5. Information about functionality, Product performance criteria, standards, specifications, requirements - role of PFAS We do not process or manufacture PFAS substances. The components we buy from our suppliers contain PFAS substances. The necessary components are not freely available and our own development is not a viable option for KION. Therefore, a switch only becomes possible when supply for larger automobile companies is no longer exclusive. If suppliers for one of the alternatives are found, development work alone is expected to be at least 1 full time equivalent for 5 - 8 years. This does not cover any testing or changes to the production. The effect on air conditioner performance cannot easily be predicted. For comparison: The switch from R134a to R1234yf decreased performance by about 5%. Similar changes or worse are expected when switching to yet another coolant. Extensive literature research and talks to suppliers let us conclude that there is currently no suitable alternative to R134a with its non-flammable properties, which can be used in high-temperature conditions. Page 4 5.1 PFAS affected parts of a Forklift truck The following known parts of a Forklift truck are PFAS affected and are by far not all, as there a lot of information gaps among the supply chain. There are currently no suitable PFAS-free alternatives for the identified parts: Page 5 6 Relevance of KION for the critical infrastructure Logistics are a system-relevant supply function for trade, production and the population and represents a central role in every economy. Intralogistic products (e.g. Forklift trucks) are crucial for supplying supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals as well as private households. Material handling equipment is the basis and hence an indispensable part for maintaining the critical infrastructure. Without Intralogistic products (e.g. Forklift trucks) the supply of hospitals, pharmacies, supermarkets, public safety (Police) and automotive industry will collapse! Page 6 7 Consequences of a PFAS ban 7.1 Social commitment of KION Group AG The KION Group and its operating units are involved in various ways around the world. Employees often provide active support - a commitment that the KION Group expressly welcomes as an employer. The range of measures is diverse, and here are just a few examples: For example, LMH EMEA in Germany supported a team of schoolchildren in their journey to the finals of an international robotics competition, where their selfdeveloped robot had to complete intralogistics tasks. KION supports local food banks at various locations. KION Group and its brands are a major employer and economic player at all its sites and contribute to the economic growth of the corresponding region. 7.2 Loss of revenue Our Material handling products contain PFAS in the components and as there are currently no suitable PFAS-free alternatives, we assume a loss of 80% in turnover. According to the KION Group AG - Annual Report 2022 the turnover in the EMEA region was 6,8 billion Euro. The result would be: 6,8 billion Euro -80% -> expected loss of turnover: 5,44 billion Euro in Europe Page 7 7.3 Loss of jobs Our Material handling products contain PFAS in the components and as there are currently no suitable PFAS-free alternatives, we assume a loss of 80% of jobs: Employees (FTE Business Segment 23.660 ITS EMEA) Employees (FTE Business Segment 4.833 SCS EMEA) The result would be: 28.493 FTE -80% -> expected loss of jobs: 22.794 in Europe