The turnout for Hactl’s 2015 International Forklift and Pallet Building Competition was the best in its eight-year history, with 13 teams from around the world competing for awards.

Teams of four from AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Air Canada, Air China Cargo, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Cargo, Finnair, IAG Cargo, International Air Cargo Terminal, Japan Airlines, Kenya Airways Cargo and Nippon Cargo Airlines joined a team from Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) at its giant SuperTerminal 1 facility in Hong Kong, to pit their skills in forklift driving and pallet building.

The competition was judged by a panel of industry experts. Bob Rogers, chief judge of the Pallet Building Competition, who has been judging this competition for many years, remarked: “Building up a pallet safely is not only about workplace safety but also about flight safety; an incorrectly built up pallet can be a hazard to the aircraft, crew and passengers during flight, and must never be allowed to occur.”

Some 300 spectators attended the event including VIP guests under secretary for Transport and Housing Yau Shing-mu, chief occupational safety officer of Labour Department Wu Wai-hung, and executive director of Occupational Safety and Health Council Bonnie Yau.

Air Bridge Cargo Airlines won the Forklift Driving Safety Award, while Kenya Airways Cargo won the Manual Handling Outstanding Award. Best Team Leader trophy went to Nippon Cargo Airlines and Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo won the Best Team Spirit Award. The Pallet Building Champion was International Air Cargo Terminal, while the award for Forklift Champion went to Japan Airlines. Overall winning team, with the highest total points, was International Air Cargo Terminal.