A major third-party logistics supplier has ordered 136 fuel cell power units for installation in Crown Equipment Corp forklifts in phases through 2012 at a grocer's retail service centre.

Genco Supply Chain Solutions of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania placed the purchase order with Plug Power Inc of Latham, New York for GenDrive-brand fuel cell units to power 100 Class 3 pallet jack units and 36 Class 2 standup reach trucks. Funding for the fuel cells is part of a USD6.1 million award made to Genco in April by the US Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Lift Inc's Lancaster, Pennsylvania brand will deliver the Crown material handling equipment for use in the Pottsville centre of Wegmans Food Markets Inc. The initial conversion in the produce building involves 59 units (Forkliftaction.com News #424).