Ohio Third Frontier Supports Fuel Cell Development in Material Handling Industry

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio Third Frontier program, the state's unprecedented commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs, has played a key role in an Ohio company's efforts to support fuel cell implementation in the material handling industry and work with its customers to see if the technology is a viable option in their operations.

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Crown Equipment Corporation (www.crown.com), one of the world's leading forklift manufacturers, recently introduced a fuel cell-ready version of the Crown PC 4500, the industry's first pallet truck designed specifically for fuel cells in an effort to ensure there is no negative impact on safety, efficiency and performance. According to Crown, support from the state and the Ohio Third Frontier program was critical in the research needed to ensure the truck met the same industry standards as a truck running on a battery. A fleet of the Crown PC 4500 with integrated fuel cells is now being used in Walmart Canada's new perishable distribution center located outside of Calgary, Alberta. The facility is the first complete distribution center in Canada to be powered exclusively by hydrogen fuel cells.

"By providing grants to help companies develop state-of-the-art technology and spread that technology through the U.S. and the rest of the world, the Ohio Third Frontier is doing an excellent job of establishing Ohio as the central hub of a Hydrogen Highway," said Eric Jensen, director of New Technology Research and Development for Crown Equipment. "At Crown, we truly believe that Ohio is a great place to do business if you're in the alternative energy world."

Crown is a long-time partner and recipient of Ohio Third Frontier support. In 2008, Crown received an Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program grant valued at $977,000 to help with the first phase of a project to study the technical and commercial barriers to the application of fuel cells in its lift trucks. In 2009, the company received a subsequent $1 million grant to begin researching the integration of fuel cells into the manufacturing of its vehicles.

"Ohio has made a commitment to become a national and international leader in advanced energy initiatives, and as a result, the state now ranks first among the 50 states in renewable and advanced energy manufacturing projects," said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "With state-of-the-art research institutions, world-class companies that are both large and small, and a growing base of talent, Ohio's advanced energy cluster is becoming a powerhouse of innovation and a magnet for the attraction and expansion of leading advanced energy companies throughout our state."  

As of June 2010, Ohio Third Frontier has awarded $180 million to Ohio's advanced energy sector alone. Through these advanced energy investments, Ohio Third Frontier has fostered the emergence of new technology clusters that include fuel cells and photovoltaics.

According to the 2009 "Making an Impact" report conducted by SRI, Ohio Third Frontier's strategies for investing in Ohio's high-tech clusters contain all the elements associated with global best practices in technology cluster development, and indicate that these investments are already generating positive economic outcomes for Ohio's economy in terms of growth in technology sector employment, output and wages. Since its inception, the Ohio Third Frontier has created, capitalized or attracted more than 600 companies, has helped to create nearly 55,000 direct and indirect jobs and helped create $6.6 billion in economic impact in Ohio, a 9:1 return on investment.

More information about Ohio Third Frontier can be found at www.OhioThirdFrontier.com.

SOURCE Ohio Third Frontier