Crown Equipment has released a specialized version of its FC 5000 series counterbalance forklift, designed specifically for the logistics and retail sectors where wire cages and roll cages are common. Traditional forklift forks can damage the bottom rungs of wire cages or get stuck on the uneven base of roll pallets. Crown's new "Cage-Safe" model replaces the standard steel load wheels with a wider, polyurethane-coated roller assembly mounted directly on the carriage.
This design acts as a "fifth wheel," stabilizing the cage during transport. The engineering innovation lies in the hydraulic integration. The load wheel is connected to a separate hydraulic circuit that applies a slight downward pressure when the forks are tilted back. This prevents the cage from sliding forward during braking, a common cause of product damage in warehouses. The load wheel is also spring-loaded to absorb the shock of uneven surfaces, ensuring that the driver retains full control even when transporting heavy, unstable loads like beverage crates in wire cages.
