New stand-up lift truck reflects Crown's commitment to design

Crown introduces the RC 5500, a stand-up truck designed with the operator and maintenance crew in mind.

By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor -- Modern Materials Handling, 5/16/2007

Do you consider driving a lift truck a “beautiful experience?”Crown Equipment Corp. thinks you should.

When Crown invited members of the media to its Ohio headquarters to introduce its newest lift truck, the first stop on the media tour was the Crown Design Center. The industrial designers who work in this stylish office space do more than just make Crown trucks look good. Their goal, says Crown’s head designer Mike Gallagher, is to infuse Crown products with innovation and creativity that provide value for the user.

“Design today is no longer just about making things beautiful,” Gallagher says. “It’s about making beautiful experiences.”

Crown’s new stand-up counterbalanced truck, the RC 5500, includes several new features designed with the operator’s experience in mind.

First and foremost is the “FlexRide” suspension system that protects operators from the shock and vibration of driving over dock plates and other rough surfaces.

The truck is also designed for optimal visibility. The operator compartment is shifted as far to the right as possible, says Gallagher, and the sculpted contour of the right side of the truck dramatically reduces the operator’s blind spot.

A spacious operator compartment, a foot rest and an adjustable arm rest round out the truck’s operator-centric features.

Crown also designed the RC 5500 to provide a beautiful experience for those who have to maintain it.

The truck has a motor braking system instead of the standard friction system. According to Eric McNutt, general manager for product training, this practically eliminates brake maintenance.

Taking off the cover to service a lift truck can be a headache, says McNutt, but the main cover of the RC 5500 lifts up just like the hood of a car, giving maintenance personnel easy access to service components.

Less maintenance means more uptime, he says. And when it comes to lift trucks, what’s more beautiful than that?