LogistXGames Boxed it Up at a Packaging Competition in Hebron

They came. They packed. They shipped.

And after a fun and frenzied morning of competition at Prologis Park in Hebron, one area company took home the Golden Pallet Award.

The LogistXGames, presented by UPS, originated in Louisville three years ago and were held in Northern Kentucky for the first time recently. Local chairman Mitch Smith, a vice president of Bastian Materials Handling of Mason, coordinated details with Kevin Grove, a senior vice president at CB Richard Ellis in Louisville, who helped design the events and served as emcee.

The event “highlights the logistics industry and promotes the companies that are the best at what they do,” Smith said. It also helps companies build employee pride, foster teamwork principles and reinforce safety standards, according to Grove.

Because of its strategic location, Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati is home to quite a few logistics companies. “There’s a reason they’re here,” Smith said. Our area is “well noted” for being a good location for this.

And what better way to show off all that expertise than through spirited competition?

As high-energy music blared and face-painted, picture-snapping co-workers cheered, teams of logistics personnel from eight local companies battled in the pallet puzzle sprint, pallet jack relay, pick/pack hurdle, and box put. But scoring was based on more than speed. Other factors included accuracy, distance, and, last but not least, no breakage of the contents.

Winners included:

• First place and recipient of the Golden Pallet

  

  Award: ProMax Automotive of Cincinnati;

• Second place: Verst Group Logistics of Walton;
• Third place: JTM Food Group Inc. of Harrison;
• Spirit Award: NFI Distribution of Cincinnati.

The top three finishers will compete against teams from Louisville and Indianapolis in September in Louisville.

But one thing is for sure, as Smith is looking for ways to improve and expand this interesting competition: “We’re going to make it an annual event.”