Wegman’s using hydrogen-fuel-cell lifts in Pottsville

Wegman's, the Rochester, N.Y.-based supermarket chain, is using 50 hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered forklifts to move pallets of fresh produce daily onto trucks that travel from its Pottsville warehouse to stores in five states.

The fleet of forklifts uses fueling-station technology developed by Air Products and Chemicals Inc. of Allentown. The hydrogen fuel cells were produced by Plug Power, based in Latham, N.Y.

The project received partial federal and state funding. Wegman's has 13 stories in Pennsylvania and seven in New Jersey.    - Alan J. Heavens