As is usual at the FLTA Awards
evening, the winners represented
every facet of the business – from
apprentices to industry stalwarts, and
manufacturers to ancillary equipment
suppliers.With the assistance of BBC Radio
2’s Sally ‘Traffic’ Boazman, representatives
from the event’s Sponsors (Albury Asset
Rentals, Doosan Infracore, GNB Industrial
Power, Hitachi Capital,Mitsubishi
Forklift Trucks and Samuk lift Trucks),
presented the annual Awards.

Traditionally, the Awards’ final four
product categories are the most hotly
contested and, according to the FLTA, this
year was no exception as a record number
of finalists vied for the top spot.

Manufacturers Hyster
(Environment), Cat
(Ergonomics),Mitsubishi
(Safety) and Linde
(Innovation) emerged
victorious from a series of
open, public votes and were
handed a much coveted,
bronze ‘Archie’ statuette.

The award to Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks
award-winning work, including: Adam Payne
of Barloworld Handling (Apprentice of the
Year), Tracy Zissler of Rushlift (Employee of
the Year) and Paul Nichol of United
Forktrucks (Services to the Fork Lift Truck
Association).

The evening saw Peter Wooldridge of Flexi
Narrow Aisle presented with the Award for
Services to the Fork Lift Truck Industry in
recognition of his groundbreaking
innovations. He was described by the FLTA
as ‘an innovator and entrepreneur, whose
expertise – both as an engineer and as a
businessman – has helped to change the face
of the fork lift truck industry… and not once,
but twice.’
Wooldridge has been designing
warehousing trucks and building them in the
UK since the mid 1970s. His first creation,
the Rota-Reach earned him an appearance
on Tomorrow’s World.

On receiving the Award,Wooldridge
commented: “British manufacturing success
stories are all too rare these days and, in the
forklift industry they are almost unhead of,
so I consider this award to be not simply a
reward for my efforts, but recognition of the
marvellous quality of the products that my
team builds.”

Lifetime achievement
The Awards cermony reached its climax as
the highest honour of the evening – the
Lifetime Achievement Award – was awarded
posthumously to Brian Nealon of Bendigo
Mitchell. The audience rose in unison to
honour one of the Association’s greatest
champions. Nealon served the FLTA, as both
chairman and president and, in presenting
the Award, FLTA President John Chappell
recognised Nealon’s pivotal work in “laying
the foundations for the Association’s success.”
Sons Alastair and Duncan accepted the
solid bronze ‘Archie’ on their father’s behalf
in front of a capacity audience which
included many of his family, friends,
colleagues and customers.

“Awards 2011 has been a resounding
success,” says FLTA Chairman Martyn
Fletcher. “By shining a spotlight on all that is
good in materials handling industry, we have
helped – for more than 17 years – to
encourage excellence throughout the fork lift
truck industry and beyond. In responding to
the real issues facing fork truck users, each of
our ‘Pick of the Year’ finalists and winners
represents a significant advance in ensuring
materials are moved more safely, more
efficiently and with less impact on the
environment. It was a celebration in so
many ways, with a genuine party
atmosphere reflecting a renewed optimism
in our industry.”