Mitsubishi Fork Lift Wins In Every Category

Mitsubishi Fork Lift Wins In Every Category

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has become the first company to make a clean sweep of every product category in the Fork Lift Truck Association’s Annual Awards for Excellence.

At an Oscars-style ceremony, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks won the Safety Award for its GRENDIA hi-vis overhead guard – a sixth success which sees it become the first manufacturer to complete the four-strong set of Environment, Ergonomics, Safety and Innovation.

Just last year Mitsubishi was presented with an FLTA Archie in the Ergonomics category, in recognition of the ‘ErgoCentric’ focus on operator efficiency, comfort and protection in the development of its OPB20NE low level order picker.

This year’s winning product, the Mitsubishi hi-vis overhead guard roof, is part of the VersaCab range of panel cabin options that was introduced with its new GRENDIA family of 1.5 to 5.5 tonne IC engine counterbalance trucks. Available on its own, or in combination with other panels, it shields against objects large and small.

Traditionally, operators have been protected from falling objects by metal bars in the roof of the overhead guard. However, although these structures form an effective barrier to larger objects, they do little to stop smaller items – and also present a serious obstacle to operator visibility.

The FLTA was particularly impressed by the Mitsubishi product’s revolutionary design – which has no bars to impede the operator’s view. By employing a special polycarbonate, which is generally around 250 times stronger than glass or 30 times than acrylic (PMMA), it offers operators a wholly unobstructed view while providing unprecedented protection against falling objects, including items as small as screws and bolts.

“Competing and winning against eight of the best forklift safety products, in a vote by our peers, is a great honour,” says Mike Jones of Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks UK.

“However, becoming the first company to win in each of the four key product categories is a clear demonstration of Mitsubishi’s continued drive for improved performance, reliability and safety. What’s more, those innovations have been spread across an impressively wide range of product types, from electric and IC engine counterbalance trucks to warehouse equipment.”