Hactl stages seventh International Forklift and Pallet Building Competition

by Press Release on 2013-01-14 23:44:00

(14 January 2013, Hong Kong:) Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) – the major air cargo handler at the world’s largest cargo hub – has once again staged its annual International Forklift and Pallet Building Competition on 13 January 2013. This year’s overall champion was Air Canada Cargo.

The event – now in its seventh year – hosted teams from international airlines and ground handlers, as well as the usual team from Hactl.

Some 150 spectators attended the event including VIP guests: Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Assistant Commissioner (Occupational Safety) of Labour Department Li Chi-leung, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Council Executive Director Tang Wah-shing.

The forklift element of the competition focused on safety awareness and technical handling of cargo. The forklift driver from each team was required to collect items of cargo from purpose-built racking, manoeuvring within a congested competition course.

The pallet-building element required teams to build a contoured lower-deck winged pallet in accordance with the competition’s strict rules. Scores were based on build time, build quality and load distribution. The teams with the lowest number of penalties were the winners.

Judging the event were representatives of the Carrier Liaison Group (CLG), Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA), Nordisk Aviation Products and The Occupational Safety and Health Council.

Says Hactl Chief Executive Mark Whitehead: “This is a fun event with a serious message: the air cargo industry has equal need for efficiency, safety and best practice in ground handling and cargo terminal operations.

“We want Hactl’s competition to help drive excellence in global ground handling and cargo terminal operations, and we are therefore very pleased that we have been able to welcome participants from around the world.”

Result of the competition:

Overall Winners:

Champion: Air Canada Cargo
First Runner-up: International Air Cargo Terminal  
Second Runner-up: Japan Airlines  
Third Runner-up: Finnair Cargo Terminal Operations  
 
Forklift Competition:
Champion: Air Canada Cargo
First Runner-up: Japan Airlines  
Second Runner-up: International Air Cargo Terminal  
Third Runner-up: Finnair Cargo Terminal Operations  

Pallet Building Competition:
Champion: International Air Cargo Terminal  
First Runner-up: Hactl
Second Runner-up: Air Canada Cargo
Third Runner-up: Finnair Cargo Terminal Operations  

Forklift Driving Safety Award: Japan Airlines  
Manual Handling Outstanding Award: Japan Airlines  
Best Team Leader Award: Cargolux Airlines International
Best Team Spirit Award: Nippon Cargo Airlines 

Photo Captions:
Hactl celebrating the successful competition with all participants and judges

About Hactl:
Hactl was launched in 1976 at Kai Tak Airport, where it handled 175,000 tonnes of cargo in its first year of operation. In 1998 it relocated to its famous, custom-designed SuperTerminal 1 at the city’s new Chek Lap Kok airport. This is still the world’s largest single independent cargo handling facility.

Hactl has more than doubled its tonnage in the 13 years since it moved to SuperTerminal 1, with an all-time record throughput of 2.9 million tonnes in 2010.

Hactl’s shareholders are Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd (41.67%), Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd (20.83%), The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd (20.83%) and China National Aviation Corporation (Group) Ltd (16.67%).