to the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre. The National Fork Truck Heritage Centre (NFTHC) was officially opened in October 2006 and is based at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, Derbyshire.
The NFTHC has a unique collection of machines charting the development of the fork truck and provides a focal point for the industry whilst being an impressive showpiece which enhances the public perception of these industry work horses.
Recently, Jim Brindley, Director of NFTHC met Mentor Training to discuss the possibility of Mentor donating their Safetruck simulator to the centre. Used extensively in the Mentor Training Centre the interactive training tool was constantly hired out to many companies. Now technologically surpassed and redundant Mentor was delighted to agree to donate the simulator to the centre.
The official presentation took place on April 1st when Emily Gregory Marketing Manager of Mentor handed over the machine to Jim Brindley in a small ceremony at the NFTHC. Jim commented, "It's another valuable piece of history saved for the future. It will also give our visitors an insight into the safety and technical standards needed by the forklift operators of today."
Winner of the 2003 British Safety Industry Federation "Innovation Award" at the Health and Safety Exhibition. The Safetruck simulator was adapted with the help of Mentor Training and launched in the UK in 2004 as Britain's first Virtual Reality Training Simulator for fork lift trucks.
The Safetruck is an interactive training tool that mimics the cab of a counterbalance fork lift with virtual reality computer technology, to create real life loading, unloading, transportation, safe and unsafe situations.
The monitor shows the truck from three different angles in virtual reality, giving the operator the full view of operation. Importantly there is a monitor at the rear of the driver - vital as a great deal of time on a forklift is spent going backwards. The simulator provides a range of realistic training routines that include a wide variety of operating exercises.
Mentor Training is the UK's leading provider of operator training and associated services for all types of materials handling, workplace transport and plant equipment. The Mentor team comprises of over 165 training professionals and support staff who provide nationwide support to Mentors vast catalogue of courses for all types of fork lift trucks, cranes, access platforms and heavy plant.