US-headquartered materials handling equipment producer, Crown Equipment Corporation, is celebrating its 80th birthday, having grown from a modest business started by brothers Carl and Allen Dicke in Ohio in 1945, to a global leader in the sector.

Crown now has regional headquarters in Australia, China, Germany and Singapore, boasts more than 500 retail locations in 80 countries and has an international workforce of 19,600.

The company continues to operate under the management of the Dickie family with the fourth generation taking charge.

“We could not have reached this point without the support of the communities in which we operate, and our employees, an incredible group of people dedicated to our customers’ success,” says Crown Equipment president Jim Dicke III.

“We are excited to continue our legacy of developing innovative technology and equipment that keeps businesses moving around the globe.”

Crown, which is known for developing technology, said it is now working with customers on incorporating trends in the sector. These include exploring approaches to automation, enhancing the operator experience, harnessing data and considering alternative power sources.