TV host Mark Durden-Smith compered the event’s 25 year in style, guiding the crowd through a glittering tribute to the companies, teams and individuals who have done so much to innovate, raise standards and help operators work more effectively.
The night opened with a look to the industry’s future, celebrating the graduation of Level 4 apprentices from the Forklift Training Engineering Centre.
Big winners in the product categories included Baumann’s H2GX60 in the Environment category, sponsored by TVH. The first hydrogen powered compact sideloader, the Baumann was praised by the jury with the hope that its pioneering use of the fuel could act as a catalyst for the technology to be more widely adopted.
Combilift added a sixth Archie statuette to its haul with taking the FLTA Award for Safety, sponsored by Trelleborg Wheel Systems. The exceptionally high capacity of its powered pallet truck really caught the jury’s attention for its potential to replace larger counterbalance trucks in pedestrianised areas.
Picking up their third win in the Ergonomics category, sponsored by Triathlon Battery Solutions, was Hubtex for its MaxX multidirectional sideloader. Jurors were thoroughly impressed with its clear operator-first approach to design. In particular they praised the highly adjustable controls and display along with the remarkably spacious cabin.
In a hotly contested field, the Innovation Award, sponsored by IBCS, went to a first-time winner: Sany, for the H9. The win marked the 100th product Archie handed out in Awards history. The jury made particular note of the H9’s nitrogen-charged accumulators which store energy and act as auxiliary lifts.
Decided entirely by the votes of FLTA Members, the Archie for Supplier of the Year, sponsored by Yale Europe Materials Handling, went to Rivermore Asset Finance.
The ceremony closed with a slight break from tradition as the Association announced the 16th recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Toyota Materials Handling. Rather than just one, there were a couple of winners this year in Peter and Carole Crawford of HFT Forklifts.
