Another Crown lift truck has received a prestigious design award. The Crown FC 4000 Series Lift Truck has earned a 2002 GOOD DESIGN™ Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, the organization announced.

The GOOD DESIGN competition remains the oldest in the world. The program was founded in 1950 by Edgar J. Kaufman, Jr. with the participation of some of America’s most important designers, many considered pioneering greats of American and modern design.The competition’s goals are to create a revived interest about contemporary design excellence and to honor both products and industry leaders in design excellence. The competition honors both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have charted new directions for competitive products in the world marketplace. The program further forwards the ideals of a design process that embodies product excellence and endurance.

Crown Vice President – Design Center Michael Gallagher said the award is particularly satisfying because the complete design of the FC 4000 four-wheel counter balanced forklift keeps the operator in mind. “We see ourselves as frontline defenders of the lift truck operator,” Gallagher says. “That’s how we view our role in the design discipline at Crown.

“The FC 4000 is a perfect case in point. Our inspiration didn’t start at the drawing board. We looked at the operators for inspiration, at the space they work in, because that’s where you want innovation.”

Gallagher says this philosophy shines through in the truck’s huge entry/exit, low step height and wide foot room with no trip points, all-important features for operator comfort.

“We considered how work gets done. That’s why we put the controls where they help the most – like our parking brake by the proper hand, not the improper kneecap. We’re excited by design that works for the operator,” he says.

This year, the Museum received hundreds of submissions from all over the world for this awards program.

An upcoming exhibition at the Chicago Athenaeum will display large photographs of the product. After the exhibition, the FC will be entered into the Museum’s Permanent Design Collection.

Since 1965, Crown products have consistently earned industrial design recognition. Today the company’s line of electric lift trucks can boast of earning more than 40 design awards.