Forklift manufacturer's facility achieves zero landfill status

Crown Equipment Corporation, one of the world’s leading forklift manufacturers, on March 31 released its Crown ecologic Report highlighting the company’s sustainability initiatives and accomplishments. The report, which can be downloaded at www.crown.com, highlights Crown’s tradition, exploration and implementation of conservation-minded practices throughout the design, engineering and manufacturing of resilient, long-lasting forklifts.

The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout numerous aspects of its operations. Throughout the past 10 years, Crown has rehabilitated more than one million square feet of brownfield facility space into new buildings for manufacturing and business operations. And, Crown’s New Bremen, Ohio, manufacturing facilities operate computer-controlled heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems to reduce facility-wide energy use.

“Sustainability and environmental stewardship are engrained into the Crown culture,” said Jim Dicke III, president, Crown Equipment. “Shaped by decades of thoughtful leadership, this approach has enabled Crown to improve the environment while benefiting our customers. On average, 85 percent of the components on Crown forklifts are engineered and manufactured by Crown. As a result, we have a unique level of control over what goes into our product during the manufacturing process and throughout the supply chain. This enables us to take a number of steps to keep sustainability top of mind while reducing waste streams.”

The sustainability of Crown forklifts is perhaps no more evident than through its Encore brand of remanufactured lift trucks as well as the remanufactured components from the company’s reNEWed parts program. Forklifts that go through the extensive Encore process incorporate precision workmanship and demanding quality-control checks to extend the product’s lifecycle. These top-quality remanufactured lift trucks often benefit from reNEWed components that make the forklift like new underneath. Crown remanufactured more than 17,000 reNEWed motors and drive units in 2009.

Some of Crown’s other recent ecologic-related accomplishments were:

• Crown’s New Knoxville, Ohio, facility achieved zero landfill status. The 40,000-square-foot facility, which manufactures electric motors and plastic parts, recycles 96 percent of its waste. The remaining 4 percent (less than 1 ton per month) is converted into energy at a state-of-the art, waste-to-energy facility. Also as part of the effort, Crown reduced disposable packaging in favor of reusable packaging. The company worked closely with suppliers to ensure that many parts delivered to the facility arrived in reusable packaging.
• Crown secured its second grant from the State of Ohioto continue its industry-leading research, testing and application of fuel cell technology in forklifts. Crown also established the material handling industry’s first Fuel Cell Qualification programfor its line of electric forklifts. The program approves Crown trucks for use with fuel cell power packs and provides certifications to customers.
• Crown brought multiple technologies to the material handling industry that help conserve waste and fuel, including e-GEN® Braking Systems for its electric forklifts and eSmart Accurate Fuel Tracking for the Crown C-5 Series internal combustion forklift. Crown’s e-GEN Braking System uses AC motor torque instead of wearable brakes to slow the forklift’s motion. This design eliminates the need to replace or adjust wearable parts and in doing so reduces waste. Crown’s eSmart Accurate Fuel Tracking monitors the truck's fuel tank and provides an accurate display of available fuel for maximum efficiency, thereby reducing unnecessary fuel tank changes and increasing productivity.

Brian Duffy, Crown’s director of corporate environmental and manufacturing safety, said, “These accomplishments and the additional details included in the 2009 ecologic report share our progress to date and a clear way to measure our progress moving forward. As we continue to have an increasing number of conversations with our customers about Crown’s sustainability efforts, we believe that our ecologic practices to minimize waste, manage energy and maximize lifespan lead to a clean environment and smart business decisions for our customers and our company.”

Crown’s ecologic program features advanced materials recycling and recovery methods, innovative production and forklift remanufacturing practices, industry-leading forklift energy efficiency, and the preservation of land and natural resources.

About Crown Equipment Corporation
Crown is one of the world’s largest lift truck manufacturers. Crown’s award-winning line of lift trucks maintains a reputation for exceptional product design, engineering and manufacturing. From the smallest hand pallet truck to the highest lifting turret truck, Crown seeks to provide users with safe, efficient and ergonomic lift trucks that lower total cost of ownership and maximize uptime. Headquartered in New Bremen, Ohio, Crown manufactures lift trucks that are sold throughout the world.