At the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks Dealer Awards, there were congratulations all round as no fewer than nine companies were recognised for their commitment to customer care.

Presented to those who "demonstrate outstanding customer service", the Mitsubishi Gold Award honours those dealers who have excelled in supporting their customers from initial contact to long term after-care.

Announcing the winners, at The Belfry, Mitsubishi Forklfit Trucks General Manager Mike Jones said: "At Mitsubishi, every one of our counterbalance and warehouse trucks is designed to keep on working, day after day, year after year.

"A truck, however, is only as good as its back-up, which is why, as an organisation, we actively encourage and reward customer service excellence in our local dealer network. It's one reason why, in independent surveys, they outperform the market in all the key criteria identified by truck users.

"Each of this year's winners have met and exceeded the ambitious targets set for them, by providing customers with the friendly, yet highly professional local support they need to maximise productivity.

"A grand total of nine Gold Awards presented represents the highest proportion of winners since the Awards were introduced more than a decade ago"

This year's winners included: A1 Industrial Truck Ltd, Andover Fork Truck Services, Bronze Mechanical Handling, Douglas Gillespie Plant, Gray Forklift Services Ltd, HFT Forklifts, Jofson Ltd, Malcolm West Forklifts, and SWIE Lift Ltd.