When Henningsen Cold Storage, Hillsboro, Ore., needed pallet jacks and forklifts that were robust enough to hold up in a refrigerated application and could store more product at higher heights, the public refrigerated warehousing provider turned to Crown Equipment Corp., New Bremen, Ohio, for a solution.

That’s because Crown’s RM 6000 Series reach truck would maximize freezer space. The truck’s MonoLift rigid mast can reach 505 inches and deliver up to 1,000 pounds more capacity at height. The truck is equipped with forks that travel upward at a pace of 160 feet per minute. By offering a clear window of visibility at height and eye level, the truck also allows operators to move loads efficiently while reducing the risk of damage to product, racks and trucks.

“Our Hillsboro, Ore., facility does huge volume, probably 1.5 times what we had planned. The RM 6000 delivers,” says Pete Lepschat, engineering services manager, Henningsen Cold Storage. “Other competitors couldn’t get to the height and capacity that we needed. We wanted a heavier pallet higher and faster, and Crown was able to come out on top. With the Xpress Lower feature, if you start adding the lifting and lowering speed advantage, you know you’ll move more pallets in an hour. Those seconds make a difference in a day’s time.”

Henningsen operators use the rider pallet forklifts for low-level order picking, as well as loading and unloading trailers on the dock. According to Lepschat, competitor trucks could not stand up to the tough, demanding environment,and operator fatigue was an issue because of the constant maneuvering of the truck in tight spaces. The Crown PE 4500 Seriesrider pallet trucks are said to feature the industry’s largest, most powerful drive unit and up to 45% more steel than competitive models in areas of the truck that face constant stress and the highest risks of costly damage. The trucks are ergonomically designed to reduce strain and fatigue, while allowing operators to accomplish more at a faster pace even in the most challenging environments.

“Compared to other brands of pallet trucks, the Crown PE 4500 is not as hard on your body,” adds James Lewis Jr., lift truck operator, Henningsen Cold Storage. “It’s not as hard on your shoulders and hips. It keeps you loose, and allows you to come back the next day and get the job done. You don’t have to worry about your body hurting as much. Operating the Crown PE 4500 means I don’t have to go home sore. I’m able to pick up my kids and play around at home.”