Industry & Business

Crown, one of the world’s largest material handling companies, has won a 2016 iF Design Award, presented by iF International Forum Design. An international panel of independent experts awarded Crown the coveted title in the “Vehicles” category in recognition of the design of Crown’s new RT 4000 Series. This is the 28th iF Product Design Award which Crown has won since 1969.

Launched in the European market at the end of 2015, the RT 4000 rider pallet truck has a load capacity of up to 2,000 kilogrammes. The forklift combines powerful, robust technology with innovative safety features and superior agility, responsiveness and reliability. Both the stand-up and sit-down models are ideal for fast-paced dock work, offering outstanding transporting performance as well as exceptional manoeuvrability even in confined spaces. Both models also offer the level of ride comfort that operators need to stay productive throughout a work day. Developed and manufactured by Crown, the RT Series’ AC motors are capable of powerful acceleration at speeds of up to 12.5 km/h.

“The RT 4000 Series represents a design concept that puts operators at the heart of the development process,” explains Jim Kraimer, Director Industrial Design at Crown. “The result is a high-performance product that helps cut costs by improving productivity and safety in the warehouse.”

For first-class comfort, the stand-up model – which has also been nominated for an IFOY Award 2016 – features a suspended floorboard plus a wraparound, soft-foam lean pad and can be configured with right-hand or left-hand steering. Crown’s patented Entry Bar Safety Switch reduces the danger of injury to the operator’s feet by deactivating travel as soon as the operator places a foot outside the truck perimeter. The sit-down model is specifically designed to excel in long-distance, high-throughput applications. It is fitted with a fully suspended driver’s seat and height-adjustable floorboard. The elevated sitting position gives operators an excellent all-round field of vision.

For over 60 years, the iF DESIGN AWARD has been acknowledged as a worldwide trademark signifying excellence in product design. The iF brand has become established as an international symbol of outstanding design achievement. The iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most widely recognised design awards in the world.

Crown is one of the world’s largest material handling companies. Its head office is located in New Bremen, Ohio, USA, with regional headquarters in Australia, China, Germany and Singapore. Its employees number more than 12,000 worldwide. Crown operates a service and distribution network that exceeds 500 retail locations in over 80 countries.