Combilift Takes Home FLTA Gold Archie Award

Combilift triumphed at this year’s Fork Lift Truck Association Awards for Excellence, held on Feb. 18 in Birmingham, U.K. The company won in the Innovation Category for the second time for its rough-terrain forklift, and it also took the first and only “Victor Ludorum” prize for the Combi-CB model. This honor is billed by the FLTA as the ultimate winner of winners in the awards’ 18 year history. The Victor Ludorum was a special one-off award chosen from every winning entry in all previous awards in the environment, ergonomics, safety, and innovation categories. The final votes were cast by attendees at the event.

Launched in 2011, the RT forklift was originally designed in collaboration with Keyo Agricultural Services, one of the U.K.’s largest providers to the poultry processing sector. Forklifts previously used in this application have been modified versions of mainstream models; however, the Combi-RT is the first purpose built, no-compromise machine designed for the exacting demands of the industry and represents a significant step forward in the handling of live poultry.

The FLTA’s verdict on the Combi-CB when it won the Innovation category in 2009 was that “the Combi-CB compact multi-directional counterbalance transfers the four-way principle into a small counterbalance truck for the first time.” This ground-breaking development, designed for operations handling a mix of both palletized and long loads, has since become one of Combilift’s best-selling models.

Sam Moffett of Combilift accepted both awards on behalf of the company. Martin McVicar, managing director, said: “Innovation and substantial investment in R&D have been our bywords since we established Combilift, and we are delighted that this has once again been recognzsed. To have the Combi-CB acknowledged by our peers in the materials handling sector as having made ‘the most outstanding contribution to the industry since the awards began’ is the ultimate tribute. We extend our thanks to the FLTA and everyone who voted for us.” 

The Archimedes (“Archie”) statuettes awarded to winners are cast in bronze by internationally renowned sculptor Les Johnson. The gold-plated Archie awarded to Combilift is unique and was created to mark the association’s 40th year. “This very special award will naturally have pride of place in our awards cabinet,” McVicar said.