Hiab Names World Champion Moffett Operator

Hiab Names World Champion Moffett Operator

Moffett has crowned Jan de Vaan from Baustoff-Metall of the Netherlands as the winner of the first-ever Moffett World Championship, which was held this month at the factory in Dundalk, Ireland. Jan de Vaan took the title with a winning time of 5:51 while driving a Moffett E4 truck-mounted forklift on the test course. Wayne Bordoy from Hardstaff Barriers Ltd. of the UK was the runner-up, with a time of 5:59, and Olan Murphy from Macroom Haulage Ltd. of Ireland took third place, with 6:18.

Finalists had to negotiate a challenging course that was designed to test their ability to mount and dismount the forklift, perform daily safety checks, negotiate obstacles, and pick up and place various loads in designated areas, all against the clock. They were also trying to beat the time set by the mystery Moffett operator - the company's very own local professional driver.

"I am very happy; it was a tough competition," said de Vaan, who has worked with the Moffett M4 for more than two years. He takes home a prize of €2,500 in travel vouchers, as well as a trophy and "Operator of the Year 2015" decals for his truck-mounted forklift.

The finalists all won the privilege of naming a favorite local charity to receive a share of the €53,000 bid by CCF Limited, part of Travis Perkins plc from the UK, in Moffett's 70th anniversary charity auction.

de Vaan, the winner, nominated En Route from Vlijmen, a charity supporting disabled children. Bordoy nominated Rainbows Children's Hospice, Loughborough, and Murphy nominated Macroom Community Hospital. The other finalists also nominated charities, and each charity will receive a donation to further their work in their local communities.

"It was remarkable to see how safely and efficiently the finalists were operating the Moffett. To see them adapt from using one Moffett model to another so quickly was also impressive. All of our 14 finalists were truly skillful drivers, and they should all be very proud of their performance," said Keith Quigley, senior vice president, truck-mounted forklifts, Hiab.

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