Nearly 150 people participated in the StaplerCup last month.

About 15,000 people watched the "world's most professional" forklift competition held over three days by forklift manufacturer Linde Material Handling GmbH (Linde MH).

Held last month at the Schlossplatz in Aschaffenburg, Germany, the StaplerCup saw 146 participants, including representatives from 12 countries, battling it out to win titles and trophies.

Linde MH spokesman Emil Schneider, who directed the StaplerCup, says the event is "the world's most professional and high-level forklift competition" that helps raise safety awareness in the materials handling industry.

"We have established a fascinating event where the forklift drivers can show their skills and the public can learn about the high performance forklift drivers have to provide every day."

The StaplerCup consists of the German national forklift championship, the international championship and the corporate championship. Participants with a valid forklift driver's licence take part in challenges that rate their speed, performance and safety awareness.

Jörg Klößinger from Nuremberg won the German national forklift championship, while the corporate team winner was ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd from Hanau, Germany. The "best forklifting nation" accolade went to the reigning champions, the German team. The International participants came from Sweden, the Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, the Baltic States, the UK and China.

Dr Philipp Rösler, German federal minister for economy and technology, called the StaplerCup "a very good example of a successful symbiosis of sporting tournament, information brokerage and fun".

The next StaplerCup will be held from 20-22 September 2012 in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Click here to watch a video of StaplerCup 2011.