CFTS expands technical support

CFTS, the body behind a national standard for the Thorough Examination of lift trucks, has announced the appointment of Simon Gribble as its new Technical Manager for the Central region.

Simon joins the CFTS team with over 40 years of extensive experience in the materials handling industry, having worked with major forklift brands such as Caterpillar, Yale, and Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks. Throughout his career, Simon has provided technical support, training, and innovative solutions to engineers across the UK.

In his most recent role, Simon served as Technical Support Manager for Aprolis UK, where he was instrumental in developing and delivering specialised training courses, including high-voltage lithium-ion systems. Simon’s expertise in both technical support and training makes him a valuable asset to CFTS as it continues to uphold the highest standards of Thorough Examination.

Commenting on his appointment, Simon said: "I’m really looking forward to getting to work. The CFTS standard is a really important thing for the industry — the inspection landscape was something of a Wild West before. It’s great to be joining a team that’s done so much to raise the level of inspections in the industry. 

“Sharing knowledge and helping people develop their skills has always been a huge part of what I enjoy, so I’m excited to hit the ground running and support our members in any way I can”

In his role as Technical Manager, he will be working alongside CFTS Technical Managers Matthew Kennedy (South) and Adrian White (North) to support CFTS and its more than 800 accredited locations across the UK and Ireland.

Simon will be responsible for providing technical guidance and support to CFTS members, ensuring the continued delivery of top-quality Thorough Examinations across the region.

Geoff Martin, Chairman of CFTS, added: “Simon’s vast experience and proven technical abilities make him an excellent addition to our team. His strengths in education and innovation align perfectly with CFTS’s commitment to being the benchmark for examination.”

CFTS established a national standard for Thorough Examinations in the UK fork lift truck industry. For more details, please visit www.thoroughexamination.org or call 01344 623 800.