Crown

Crown Equipment Corp., headquartered in New Bremen, Ohio, is the largest manufacturer of lift trucks in the U.S., and the sixth largest in the world. Crown also provides services and support for its products, which comprise 85 % Crown-designed and manufactured components.

The Temperature Control Business - Crown was founded by two brothers in 1945, Carl and Allen Dicke, in a former hardware store in New Bremen, Ohio. The company’s goal was to manufacture of temperature controls for a coal-burning furnaces. In 1945 Carl’s son joined the company James Dicke.

Another New Market - In 1951 Crown began manufacturing and repairing mechanical and electronic parts for private industry's and government operations. Before long the company’s presence in this sector was solidified.

Crown stacks its Way to the Top - It hasn't been until 1957 that Crown began manufacturing lift trucks. The company has moved in a direction with belief that there was a need for a smaller but high quality lift trucks for the material handling industry. Crown introduced its new, full range of equipment, and the product was immediately on high demand. This early success would eventually mold the company into the largest lift truck manufacturer in the U.S.

Crossing Borders - In 1966, 9 years after its initial material handling equipment line was revealed, Crown has expanded its business beyond the borders of the U.S. the location was Australia. This endeavor would prove very useful to the company, as the Sydney, Australia regional headquarters would eventually lead in crown's sales, services and marketing in the Asia Pacific region. Two years after establishing business in Australia, Crown began to venture into the European material handling market. This began with the purchase of a manufacturing plant located in Ireland, intended to manufacture Crown's hand pallet trucks. Later in 1968 the company opened a new sales and service branch located in London, close to Heathrow Airport. The late 60's to early 70's marked a period of continued growth for crown in Europe. The company’s entire line of life trucks was made for purchase in the U.K. following this; Crown began marketing its products throughout most of Europe over independent dealers.

Design Recognition - In the early 1970's, Crown has produced a side stance lift truck a design that was seen as radical and very bold. Eventually, the design gained acceptance and resulted in Crown getting awarded by "Design of the Decade" award presented by the International Design Society of America. Throughout the year, Crown would receive more than 50 design awards for its material handling products. The company asserts its design “firsts” continue to be apparent in such products as the 5200S series reach truck, which has sit, lean, or stand options.

The Company Today - Presently, Crown Equipment Corp. is led by James F. Dicke II, the chairman and CEO, and James F. Dicke III, the company president. James F. Dicke III represents the fourth generation of Dickes to run Crown. Headquarters for North America are in New Bremen, Ohio; headquarters for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India are located in Munich, Germany; and Asia Pacific headquarters are located in Sydney, Australia. Crown has six manufacturing plants in the U.S., New Bremen, Fort Laramie, New Knoxville, and Celina, OH; Greencastle, IN; and Kinston, NC. In addition, it has international manufacturing facilities in Sydney, Australia; Suzhou, China; Roding, Germany; and Queretaro, Mexico. In addition to its line of electric lift trucks, Crown has sales and service products handled by a company owned dealer network around the world, in almost 100 cities. The company’s Munich, Germany corporate office, established in the 1980s, is responsible for the marketing, purchasing, design, and engineering capabilities for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.