Acknowledging excellence

Co-presented by Channel Five news presenter, Emma Crosby,and Martyn Fletcher, chair of the Fork Lift Truck Association, the FLTA annual Awards for Excellence saw industry figures from far and near descend upon the Hilton Birmingham Metropole to discover who had won one of the material handling industry's most coveted prizes - an Archie

Big product category winners at the FLTA's 19th annual Awards for Excellence included BMB Weatherproof Canopies' Pallet Truck Bag (Environment), Yale's Mast-Mounted LED Lights (Safety), Cat Lift Trucks' NPP16-20N2 (R)(E) Power Pallet Trucks (Ergonomics), and Aisle-Master's Cold Store Aisle-Master (Innovation); each receiving a solid bronze statuette following a public vote through the FLTA website.

Individual Awards were presented to Mathew Wood of Rushlift (Apprentice of the Year), Malcolm Pearson of Midac UK (Services to the industry), and the Association's former chief executive, David Ellison, was honoured for 'Services to the Fork Lift Truck Association'.

Babcock International Group was named 'Safe Site' for its innovative approach to safety management. Rather than dictate protocol, Babcock involved all of its fork lift drivers and supervisors in an open and honest discussion on the subject of safety to identify key issues. Discussions resulted in the introduction of 21 safety standards, and empowered more than 550 staff to help achieve compliance.

Since 1995, the Awards has served as a 'Pick of the Year' for materials handling products and services, rewarding those who strive to raise standards throughout the fork lift truck industry.

During dinner, the winner of the inaugural Customer Focus Award - identifying the fork truck dealership deemed to have provided the most innovative or appropriate solution to a customer's particular materials handling requirements - was decided by an open vote of attendees. A great cheer went up as Douglas Gillespie Plant was announced winner.

Peter Harvey, chief executive of the FLTA, comments: "Awards 2013 has been a resounding success. This event continues to celebrate all that is good in the materials handling industry and, for more than 19 years, we have encouraged the progress that has been achieved.

"Every one of our 'Pick of the Year' represents a significant advance in ensuring that fork lift trucks are working more safely, more efficiently and with less impact on the environment. We are proud to recognise and reward such advances."