Forklift Team World Championship: 12 National Teams Compete for the Championship Title

Aschaffenburg, September 12, 2024.

Teamwork is everything: In the Forklift Team World Championship, it’s not just individual brilliance that counts, but a flawlessly executed team strategy. Alongside forklifts, other industrial vehicles are used, and only the seamless coordination of all four team members will give them a shot at the world title!

This was already proven in 2022 during the NationsCup, which returned to the main program of the StaplerCup Finals as an international competition after a long break. Slovakia narrowly defeated the Netherlands to claim the NationsCup title. Now, with the transformation of the StaplerCup into the Forklift World Championship — the world’s premier forklift sports event — the NationsCup has evolved into the Forklift Team World Championship.

In addition to defending champion Slovakia and Germany, which boasts the most international titles, ten other national teams will compete in the 2024 Team World Championship. These include Belgium, China, Estonia, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, and Slovenia. The championship will take place on October 25 and 26 in Aschaffenburg, the home of forklift sports.

The StaplerCup Finals will be streamed live worldwide on YouTubeand Sportdeutschland.tv. The national teams will begin competing on October 25 at around 11 a.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST), with the semifinals and finals scheduled for October 26, starting at 5 p.m. CEST.

Interview with StaplerCup Sports Director Martin Stadtmüller on the Forklift Team World Championship

In this interview on YouTube, StaplerCup Sports Director Martin Stadtmüller discusses the most important details about the Forklift Team World Championship.

What is the Forklift Team World Championship?

Martin Stadtmüller:

As the name suggests, it’s a team competition where groups compete together for the prestigious Team World Championship title. The competition has had various names in the past, such as the “NationsCup.” This year, everything is coming together under one banner: we now have an official world championship in forklift driving.

What is the goal of the Forklift Team World Championship?

Martin Stadtmüller: The goal is simple yet monumental — winning the world championship title as a team. It’s similar to the FIFA World Cup in that we have a tournament structure, and at the end, the best team is crowned world champion.

How can nations participate in the Forklift Team World Championship?

Martin Stadtmüller: Countries have several ways to qualify for the team championship. Each nation that wants to compete sends its best team, ideally the top drivers who have qualified through national competitions. These teams will then make their way to Aschaffenburg in October to compete for the title.

How many members are in each team?

Martin Stadtmüller: Each team consists of four members. Three of them drive and complete various challenges on different courses, while the fourth acts as the team leader, responsible for overseeing and coordinating the team's efforts.

Which nations have already competed internationally, and who is the reigning champion?

Martin Stadtmüller: We’ve had many nations competing in past events, all aiming to be the best in the world. Germany, in particular, has won several championships, but we’ve also seen teams from China, Chile, and many other countries. The reigning champion is Slovakia, and they will be back this year to defend their title.

Does the Forklift Team World Championship happen every year?

Martin Stadtmüller: So far, the Forklift Team World Championship, and its previous formats, have been held every two years. However, we’re open to feedback from the Stapler community. If there’s strong interest in making this an annual event, we might adapt and crown a new Team World Champion every year.

What are the biggest differences between the previous Team World Championship/NationsCup and the Forklift Team World Championship?

Martin Stadtmüller: The main difference is that this is now an official world championship. We still have different nations competing against each other, but we’re always evolving. Each year, we introduce new challenges, so teams competing in the inaugural Forklift Team World Championship will face brand-new courses to conquer.

Where can I find more information about the Forklift Team World Championship?

Martin Stadtmüller: You can find all the details at www.staplercup.com. We look forward to welcoming the Stapler community — and we’ll see you next year for the qualifiers!

Pressebüro StaplerCup

Florian Müller

+49 2161 277 55 – 92

staplercup@keoz.com