Crown Equipment to Discuss Viability of Fuel Cell Forklifts at ProMat 2011
NEW BREMEN, Ohio (March 15, 2011) - Eric Jensen, director of new technology, research and development for Crown Equipment Corporation, will be participating in a fuel cell workshop and panel discussion at ProMat 2011 on March 21. The annual conference showcases the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions for the material handling and logistics industry. Crown Equipment is one of the world's leading forklift manufacturers and has been at the forefront of evaluating, qualifying and deploying fuel cell technology.
During the workshop, which is titled "Onboard Energy Storage Performance Needs for Motive Markets," Jensen will advocate the need for continued research and development of onboard hydrogen storage systems to help make fuel cells a viable option for smaller-sized forklift fleets. He'll also provide a brief overview of Crown's fuel cell program and discuss performance needs for energy storage systems in the material handling market.
"While fuel cells are a viable alternative power source for certain forklifts, the significant infrastructure investment needed for deployment has made it only an option for fleets containing 30 trucks or more," said Jensen. "To continue the evolution of fuel cell applications in the forklift market, there is a need for the development of a replaceable hydrogen tank, cartridge or bottle to ensure fuel cells are economically viable for small warehouses or retail operations with smaller fleets."
In its entirety, the workshop will examine important performance requirements for fuel cell applications, such as for material handling equipment, and the impact these requirements have on onboard energy storage needs. The information gathered from this workshop will provide the basis for an analysis identifying the needs, gaps and areas for further research and development of onboard energy storage for fuel cell markets. The workshop will be held in Room 501 B/C and begin at 8:45 a.m. The panel discussion is scheduled to take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The workshop is organized by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy in conjunction with the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) and ProMat 2011.
In 2010, Crown was the first lift truck manufacturer to introduce a fuel cell qualification program for its line of electric forklifts. To date, Crown has qualified 20 of its electric forklift models to operate with various fuel cells, offering an unprecedented 29 qualified combinations of fuel cell packs and lift trucks.
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. For more information, visit www.crown.com.
Crown Equipment acknowledges the contribution of the State of Ohio, Department of Development and the Third Frontier Commission, which provided the funding in support of the qualification of lift trucks for battery replacement fuel cell projects.
