A forklift technology and training centre has opened at the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima.

Crown Equipment Corp collaborated with the private co-educational institution in establishing the centre and outfitting the space with forklifts and service equipment.

The university's college of applied technologies offered its first entry-level six-week-long forklift training course beginning on 1 April as part of the agricultural diesel program.

Christopher Marker, the course instructor, is chair and advisor with the university's automotive department. He instructs numerous courses relating to engineering, motor and equipment remanufacturing and automotive, diesel and high-performance technology. Crown trained Marker at its Arlington, Texas facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

"We are excited because this course exactly follows the teaching methods we employ when training new Crown service technicians at our training facilities," says Neal Hittepole, Crown director of branch aftermarket sales. "Once students complete the hands-on course, they have the knowledge needed to work as a technician at one of our branch facilities.

"We employ about 1,300 technicians in our US Crown Lift Trucks branches and have a need for quality students."

The centre adds training in a job classification previously unavailable to the students, says Stephen Farmer, the university's vice president of development.

Materials handling equipment designer and manufacturer Crown is based in New Bremen, Ohio, about 30 mi. (48 km) from the university's campus.