Welcome to the 1 February Warehouse & Logistics News. In the double chill of the wintry weather and Coalition spending cuts, we need something to celebrate. So here’s to Britain’s industrial talent, particularly those hardworking heroes, the forklift truck drivers.
Our forklift operators don’t have their own TV talent search yet, but we do have the 2011 RTITB & Sumo Glove Lift Truck Operator of the Year Competition. Online entries, care of www.rtitb.co.uk/fltcompetition, close Friday 11 February. The top 16 entrants from Northern England, Southern England and Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Ireland that emerge from the online stage will be invited to take part in one of five national finals around the UK this spring and summer. Do YOU know any fork lift operators who could be this year’s stars? Encourage them to enter today!
The latest RTITB Lift Truck Operator competition news is that RTITB has just confirmed TNT Express Services UK & Ireland as Platinum Sponsors for 2011. TNT has over 1,100 forklift operators in 57 locations and is accredited with RTITB for its lift truck operator training. TNT’s involvement highlights how much it values forklift safety and training and recognises RTITB’s high standards.
In this issue we interview Simon Harper, TNT’s Director of Operations, who oversees TNT’s FLT training, and will be heading TNT’s involvement in the 2011 Competition. TNT’s Kingsbury hub is to be the setting for the Southern England and Midlands final, in mid June. For more competition news, watch this space!
Also in this issue is our first Fork Trucks feature of 2011. Leading the feature is an exclusive interview with Translift Bendi’s MD, Simon Brown. Since they first appeared, Translift Bendi’s versatile Bendi VNA forklift trucks have maximised operating efficiency in the increasingly confined spaces of today’s high-density, high-rise warehouses. And over nearly three decades, the Bendi has developed from a niche product for specialist use to a machine selling in the same numbers as conventional reach trucks.
The fork truck suppliers are increasingly called upon to deliver more than just trucks in their solutions for clients. As detailed in our feature, Crown Trucks recently enlisted flooring improvement experts Concrete Grinding’s help to create a superflat floor for Crown’s trucks at Oxford University Press’s new Kettering DC. CoGri Group have worked closely with forklift manufacturers for years but MD Kevin Dare says there is a growing trend for forklift companies to take on board the floor corrective works, supported by experts like Face Consultants and CoGri. Expect more such Coalitions in 2011!
Have a successful month.
Warehouse & Logistics News
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