Combilift Triumphs at the FLTA Awards

Feb 26, 2012 Warehousing Ireland News 0

---

Unique Gold Archie Award for “Best of the Best” Double Winner

 

It was a night to remember for Combilift at this year’s FLTA Awards for Excellence, held on February 18^th in Birmingham. Not only did the company win the Innovation Category for the second time, for its new Rough Terrain RT forklift, but its Combi-CB model also scooped the first and only “Victor Ludorum“ prize, billed by the FLTA as the ultimate winner of winners in the awards’ 18 year history.

To mark London 2012 the FLTA introduced an Olympic theme to the event, which was co-hosted by British Olympic Champion Sally Gunnell. 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, and as befits an accolade of this nature, the winner’s trophy was in a class of its own. The Archimedes (or “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 40^th year. “This very special trophy will naturally have pride of place in our awards cabinet,” said Combilift MD Martin McVicar.

 

Launched in 2011, the RT was originally designed in collaboration with Keyo Agricultural Services, one of the UK’s largest providers to the poultry processing sector. Whereas forklifts previously used in this application have been modified versions of mainstream models, 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 4-way principle into a small counterbalance truck for the first time.” This ground- breaking development, designed for operations handling a mix of both palletised 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 comments: “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 recognised. 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.”

---