Record-breaking awards for excellence

"Our industry shows a healthy obsession with raising standards" said Fork Lift Truck Association chairman Richard Baxter, reflecting on this year's record-breaking Awards for Excellence.

"Our industry shows a healthy obsession with raising standards".

That was the conclusion of Fork Lift Truck Association Chairman Richard Baxter, reflecting on this year's record-breaking Awards for Excellence.

With a record number of nominations qualifying as finalists, a record number of votes cast and a record number of Awards presented, it was clear, he said, that the industry cared about raising standards and was making great progress.

Hosted by Mr Baxter and FLTA vice-chairman Paul Nichol, Awards 2005 took place in front of a capacity audience at Birmingham's Hilton Metropole on 26 February.

The eagerly anticipated event literally sparked into life with a spectacular opening act that brought together steel-clad Keda Breeze and an angle grinder.

In total, 11 Awards were presented, culminating in a Lifetime Achievement Award for recently retired Terry Foreman.

This honour recognised a career spanning a number of key positions in both manufacturing companies and trade organisations.

The Award for Safety, for which everyone in the UK materials handling world had been entitled to vote by postal ballot, went to Palletcap for its contribution to the safe stacking of fragile pallet loads.

Its product, the Palletcap, is a highly visible cone that identifies vulnerable freight and instantly warns fork lift operators not to stack anything on top of it.

"We are delighted for all of the people and organisations who have received accolades tonight," said Richard Baxter, "but we also congratulate everyone who made it through to this ceremony as a nominee.

"We have been amazed by the high quality and sheer variety of their entries.

"The fact that so many different approaches are being taken to make improvements, from all quarters, bodes well for the industry's future".

For more information on the Annual Awards for Excellence or the Fork Lift Truck Association, please contact David Ellison, chief executive of the Fork Lift Truck Association.

Nominees and winners in full are as follows.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2005 (sponsored by Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks): Finalists - Craig Bird of Impact Lift Trucks, Daniel Gallagher of Stac A Truc; Winner - Daniel Gallagher of Stac A Truc.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: John Wylie of Locators.

SERVICES TO THE FORK LIFT TRUCK ASSOCIATION: Phil Perry of Watts Industrial Tyre Services.

SERVICES TO THE FORK LIFT TRUCK INDUSTRY (sponsored by Euro-Daewoo UK): John Sutton of the Institute of the Motor Industry .

DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT 2005 (sponsored by Calor): The design team at Combilift.

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR 2005 (sponsored by Translift Engineering): Nominees - Albury Asset Rentals, B and B Attachments, Calor Gas, De Lage, Landen Leasing, Industrial Equipment Distributors, Intrupa (UK); Winner - Albury Asset Rentals.

SAFETY 2005 (sponsored by Narrow Aisle): Nominees Brigade Electronics (bbs-tek low-noise, directional, localised movement alarm), Castell Safety International (Salvo drive-away prevention system for articulated trailers), Cat Lift Trucks (N range counterbalance with safety built-in from the ground up), Hyster Europe (JXMT ACX three-wheel electric with a range of safety features), Jungheinrich (UK) (DFG/TFG 425-435 designed for high-stability travel and operation), Long Reach Co (Pallet Puller for safer unloading), Mondi Packaging (UK) (Fork Lift Truck Licence and Safe Driving Diploma), Palletcap (solution to stacking of fragile pallet loads); Winner - Palletcap.

ENVIRONMENT 2005 (sponsored by CMP Batteries): Nominees - Brigade Electronics plc (bbs-tek low-noise, directional, localised movement alarm), Cat Lift Trucks (low exhaust emissions of N range counterbalance), Euro-Daewoo UK (low exhaust emissions of G25E Plus counterbalance), Jungheinrich (UK) (ETV/ETM 320-325 achieving up to 30 per cent energy reclamation), Watts Industrial Tyre Services (Recycling solutions to problem of solid tyre disposal); Winner - Watts Industrial Tyres.

ERGONOMICS 2005 (sponsored by Albury Asset Rentals): Nominees - BT Rolatruc (Pro Lifter M motorised hand pallet truck), Cat Lift Trucks (operator compartment of N range counterbalance), Euro-Daewoo UK (swing-down bottle carrier for easy exchange of gas bottles), Hyster Europe (ergonomic features of JXMT ACX three-wheel electric), STILL Materials Handling (ergonomic design of CS-20 low-level order picker); Winner - Euro-Daewoo UK.

INNOVATION 2005 (sponsored by Storage Handling Distribution Magazine): Nominees - BT Rolatruc (E-BAR universal mount for warehouse management devices), CMP Batteries (Multi-Deck battery transfer systems saving space, time and energy), Crown Lift Trucks (Tilt Assist and Capacity Data Monitor for safer handling at higher levels), Hyster Europe (Automatic Park Brake on JXMT ACX three-wheel electric), Jungheinrich (UK) (ETV/ETM 320-325 mast reach cushioning system), Long Reach Co (Pallet Puller for safer unloading), Narrow Aisle FlexiGAS (applying IC engine flexibility to a warehouse truck), STILL Materials Handling (MX-X VNA combination order picker/stacker with modular design), Translift Bendi (Bendi 3 compact, low-cost three-wheel articulated truck); Winner - Translift Bendi .

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Terry Foreman.

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS: In addition to the Awards Sponsors, mentioned above, the organisers wish to thank the Event Supporters: Bolzoni Auramo Rental, Curtis Instruments (UK), Jungheinrich (UK), Performance Handling, Pyroban Group and Watts Industrial Tyre Services.

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