Forklift industry celebrates its best and brightest

The winners of 26th FLTA Awards for Excellence were announced at an online live streamed event on Saturday 10 April.

Having been twice postponed due to the pandemic, the event was taken online – a first for the Forklift Truck Association (FLTA) in its history of holding the Awards.

On the evening of 10 April audiences tuned in for an evening of cocktails and celebrations, hosted by compere Rebecca Mordan. Throughout the evening, familiar faces from across the industry made appearances to announce the winners in ten categories.

Supportive teams

The first winner of the night was B&B Attachments, who won Supplier of the Year, sponsored by Yale. This award speaks volumes about B&B Attachments as it is voted for by FLTA members themselves.

The remaining award winners were selected by a jury of industry experts, with Dealer of the Year, sponsored by Combilift, going to Truckmasters Handling.

With safety being a cornerstone of the FLTA, the Safe Site Award is always an inspirational one. This award, sponsored by Carrylift, went to Devenish Nutrition for its proactive approach and commitment to improving safety across multiple sites.

Pick of the Year

The most hotly contested awards of the night are always the sought-after Pick of the Year product accolades.

The Environment Award was sponsored by TVH, and went to JCB for its 30-19E — the world’s first electric telescopic forklift. This new product has zero emissions and minimal sound pollution, making it ideal for urban environments.

Earning its seventh award to date, Combilift received the Innovation Award, sponsored by IBCS. Its Electric Front and Rear Wheel Drive Combination impressed the panel with its clever design and how it handles long loads in the tightest spaces while minimising tyre wear.

When it comes to keeping operators comfortable, Linde proved top, with its N20C Steering Wheel winning the Ergonomics Award, sponsored by Triathlon Battery Solutions. The ergonomics of the steering wheel were truly designed with the operator in mind, removing a great deal of stress and strain throughout long shifts.

The Safety Award, sponsored by F-TEC, went to Hyster for its hinged elevating operator cabin for the Hyster RS46 ReachStacker. The jury noted the excellent visibility afforded by the cabin, eliminating the need for cameras or spotters, who would potentially be at risk.

Individual achievements

Sponsored by Doosan, the Apprentice of the Year Award honours the hard work and dedication put in by the industry’s newest recruits. Kieran Hale was named winner and received a cheque and certificate.

The Services to the Industry Award, sponsored by Flexi, was won by Richard Hayes, in recognition of his work at Brindley Lift Truck Services as well as his invaluable contributions to the FLTA and CFTS over the years.

The final honour of the night was the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Toyota Material Handling. Given his extraordinary career at Hitec and unwavering commitment to customers and staff alike, Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Prospero Girardi, who now finds himself in exclusive company as only a handful of people have ever received this award.

FLTA director Tim Waples said, “The FLTA Awards for Excellence highlights the remarkable accomplishments of the sector and this year was no exception. We would like to offer a big congratulations to our well-deserving winners.

“It is also important to recognise the efforts of the other nominees in each category. All of the entries we received represent a clear commitment to delivering unrivalled services and ingenious products designed to make a real difference to the industry.”

As well as coming together to celebrate the sector’s best and brightest, ticket holders were also entered into a Grand Prize Draw, sponsored by Hubtex. Premium prizes were awarded to winners throughout the night, adding a few extra surprises for a lucky few.

“It was a fantastic night and even though the music and dancing couldn’t happen in person, we hope the audience had fun continuing the after-party at home,” added Tim Waples.

“We would like to sincerely thank all our sponsors: Combilift, Carrylift, Yale, Toyota Material Handling, F-TEC, IBCS, TVH, Triathlon Battery Solutions, Flexi, Doosan and Hubtex; our supporters: Transmon Engineering, JCB and DLL; and our media partner Handling and Storage Solutions.

“I look forward to the time when we can once again gather together to celebrate the achievements and innovations within our industry.”