Somehat disagree with Jamie:
1. This is Crowns first venture into ICE, solid tire forklifts which are predominately sold in North America - like 95% a few in Europe, mainly Germany, a few in Austrialia. So it seems they designed it for the market in which it will be sold. They have adressed some human factros vary nicely & a unque cooling system. Certainly time will tell on any new design.

2. Linde & it's hydrostatics have been in the US since the mid to late 70's. The concept has yet to catch on in a "big" way - the Linde is a "niche" market type machine. While the engines are taughted to go for 20,000 hours, a great majority of lift trucks acquired via a FMV lease or rental fleet finance programs - most of which are 5 years. At the end of the term the units are replaced and sold into teh second hand or used market with much less than 10,000 hours on them.

3. I believe the US lift truck market & auto industry learned a lot more from the Japanese in terms of quality & design at an "affordable" price than other area.

Just my opinion which is liek a navel everyone has one.