Crown's new stand-up lift truck
By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 6/1/2007
Crown Equipment Corp. invited members of the media to its Ohio headquarters to introduce its newest lift truck last month. And, because the company thinks driving a lift truck should be a “beautiful experience,” the first stop on the tour was the Crown Design Center. The industrial designers do more than 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 user value.
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| Crown's new RC 5500 stand-up counterbalanced truck. |
“Design today is no longer just about making things beautiful,” Gallagher says. “It's about making beautiful experiences.”
Crown's new RC 5500 stand-up counterbalanced truck includes several features designed for operator's experience.
The “FlexRide” suspension system 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.
VideoModern’s associate editor Corinne Kator traveled to Crown Equipment Corporation’s home in New Bremen, Ohio, to get a first-hand introduction to two of Crown’s newest products: the RC5500 lift truck and the InfoLink fleet management system.
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