Crown Equipment has brought the FC 5200 Series forklift to Australia, calling it “the most efficient heavy-duty counterbalance forklift for warehouse and manufacturing applications”.
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The FC 5200, which launched in the US in March, has been designed with a pre-emptive focus on efficiency, resulting in a future-proof forklift, Crown general manager Craig Kenchington says.
“It’s safe to say that the forklift industry is likely to face increased pressure to provide more efficient products, just as the automotive industry has,” he says. “That’s why we’ve produced our latest products with an emphasis on driveline efficiency and are offering state-of-the-art technology to achieve it.”
Central to this efficiency are proprietary, Crown-built AC drive motors which support loads ranging from 1800kg to 3000kg. Battery economy is improved by changes to the motor-controller interface and the battery cut-off.
Other features are Crown’s e-GEN braking — which the company says benefits runtimes while reducing the need for maintenance — and on-demand power steering.
The latter means that power is only used when the steering wheel is turned, avoiding energy loss. Fingertip-control hydraulics operate on a similar basis.
Crown says that the FC 5200 is able to move up to 10 per cent more per shift through faster acceleration, travel and lift speeds.
In addition, its dual drive motors and steering axle geometry allow for a smaller turning radius so operators can handle heavy loads in tight spaces without causing extra tyre wear, the company says.
“The tighter turning radius of the forklift enables the truck to be used in the same space as a conventional four-wheel forklift, while also allowing room for a larger battery that provides 15 per cent more runtime per battery charge,” Crown says.
“When the performance of the forklift is set to optimise efficiency, an additional 25 per cent of runtime can be realised, resulting in a combined 40 percent more runtime per battery charge.”
On the operator side of the FC 5200, Crown has focussed on improved ergonomics, all-around visibility and ample workspace.
The enhanced visibility is a result of a cab-forward design, low-profile cowl, narrow steering column and visibility through the mast.
Also of benefit to the operator is Crown’s Intrinsic Stability System, which “uses integrated sensors and controllers to constantly monitor and control key forklift functions and movements to enhance stability and safety”.