Crown extends counterbalance range with electric model

Crown introduced its first counterbalance truck - the C5 - to the UK market in 2010, with an approach that focused on offering a more rounded range to existing customers. The release of the SC 6000 electric counterbalance truck, sees Crown extend its range further.

The three-wheel and four-wheel models, with capacities ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 tonnes and lift heights of up to 7.5 metres, offer a combination of stability, advanced technology and task-focused ergonomics. The new lift trucks are capable of performing a wide variety of material-handling tasks in both indoor and outdoor conditions.

The SC 6000 Series incorporates Crown’s proven ergonomics for operator comfort and control. For example, the low step height of 375mm and head clearance make it easier to get on or off the truck. Furthermore, the truck design gives operators unobstructed views in all directions – even when fitted with one of many of the available cab options. The partial cabin includes windshield, rear panel and roof with an optional reading light. The soft cabin features flexible doors with integrated magnets for weatherproof side protection. Even the hard cabin for outdoor use offers unobstructed sight lines in all directions including upwards. The hard cabin also comes with clear-view doors, two-way sliding windows and a heater option. Regardless of the cabin option chosen, operators’ freedom of movement remains unimpaired. Thanks to a wide variety of other options – for controls, lighting, accessories and more – the lift trucks can be precisely configured to each customer’s specific needs.

The solid design – including a robust chassis and a full-length, solid floor plate beneath the battery – keeps the truck in excellent shape in the toughest conditions and the most demanding applications. Crown uses steel instead of plastics where it counts. The steer axles feature massive steel/cast-iron construction and heavy-duty tapered roller bearings which enable the truck to withstand jolts as it travels over rough surfaces and dock boards. This long-life rear-axle steering system has been tested for thousands of hours – and yet even the four-wheel truck’s turning circle is nearly zero, making it almost as agile as the three-wheel version. A clear view of both front wheels facilitates taking advantage of the manoeuvrability this affords.

Crown customer Detlef Erdmann, warehouse management group leader at Carl Kühne KG, Germany says: "When working on ramps in particular, the forklift can be easily and safely manoeuvred, thanks to the ramp hold function and automatic speed control. The mast is extremely robust and offers high stability, both when extended and loaded. It also impresses with particularly soft mast staging, so our employees enjoy precision control of the loads under all conditions. The SC 6000 is an accomplished machine that more than meets our high demands.”

Nested I-beam masts that minimise longitudinal, lateral and torsional flexibility mean the trucks perform reliably and give operators greater confidence while driving. Crown SC 6000 trucks are also fitted with high quality, heat-resistant drive motors that are designed to avoid the need to reduce the motor’s power output to prevent overheating. The in-house designed and manufactured motors incorporate the highest thermal ratings in the industry – an advantage that also minimises downtime, as well as spare part and maintenance costs.

The intelligent on-board control system delivers precise control, providing great stability and comfort. The system ensures that the SC 6000 maintains constant speed on ramps and assists operators by automatically adjusting the operation of control functions in correspondence to different load weights, lift heights, steering angles and travel speeds. For instance, tilt speeds are automatically limited, based on fork height and load weight, and below free lift height, operators have access to the full range of forward tilt and full tilt speeds.

Another stand-out feature of the SC 6000 Series is ease of service. Crown’s patented Access 123 technology provides customers with dependable, on-board diagnostics in real time. With the BTS 1000 battery transfer system, enabling one person to change a truck battery in three minutes, Crown supplies an all-encompassing concept that streamlines workflows and ensures sustainable, productive and profitable warehouse operations.