“All of the students participating in this competition were exceptional,” said Wayne Mabry, manager of electrical engineering, Cat Lift Trucks and one of the engineering judges for the lift truck challenge.  “Cat Lift Trucks is honored to be able to play a part in expanding their knowledge on green technology and the manufacturing industry.”

The international competition featured students between the ages of 14 and 18 from Germany , India , Japan and the U.S. The contest required the 7 teams to construct a fuel cell lift truck that could lift a load 2.4 inches (6 centimeters) high and move the load 11.8 inches (30 centimeters) across a flat plastic surface. The lift trucks were judged in the categories of Energy Efficiency, Engineering and Creativity.   

The energy efficiency category winner was determined by the amount of work done compared to the amount of energy used. A team of t hr ee engineers judged the students’ journals and interviewed them on their construction efforts.  The final category judged the creativity, or aesthetic portion, and was voted on by attendees of the 2007 Fuel Cell Seminar and Exposition – the fuel cell tradeshow held in conjunction with the IYFCC. The winners of the overall fuel cell lift truck competition were Erica Van Stein and Paul Rosenberger, students from one of the two U.S. teams competing.

“Cat Lift Trucks’ participation in the IYFCC demonstrates our dedication to educating future engineers in eco-friendly practices,” said Mabry. “We look forward to being a part of this competition next year and will continue to invest in our future engineers.”
 

For more information on Cat Lift Trucks, please visit http://www.cat-lift.com.