Fork Lift Truck Association chairman Richard Baxter said the forklift industry showed a healthy obsession with raising standards at the conclusion of the awards ceremony at Birmingham's Hilton Metropole.

Hosted by Mr Baxter and FLTA vice chairman Paul Nichol, Fork Lift Truck Association's Annual Awards for Excellence 2005 saw 11 awards presented, including a lifetime achievement award for recently retired Terry Foreman.

The four awards for which everyone in the UK materials handling world was entitled to vote by postal ballot went to:

* Safety: Palletcap for its contribution to the safe stacking of fragile pallet loads.
* Environment: Watts Industrial Tyres for finding new ways of recycling solid tyres.
* Ergonomics: Euro-Daewoo for its swing-down bottle carrier, allowing easy exchange of gas bottles.
* Innovation: Translift Bendi for the Bendi 3 compact, low-cost, three-wheel articulated truck.

"We are delighted for all the people and organisations who have received accolades tonight," Baxter said. "We have been amazed by the high quality and sheer variety of the entries. The fact that so many different approaches are being taken to make improvements, from all quarters, bodes well for the industry's future."

This year's awards had a record-breaking 27 nominations that made it past the selection panel to become finalists (Forkliftaction.com News #186).