IAPAs / IPAF Summit get underway in Miami

The International Awards for Powered Access (IAPA) and IPAF Summit take place today in Miami, US.

More than 350 industry professionals from across the world are attending the events at the Miami Downtown Hotel, where an impressive panel of speakers will be sharing their knowledge and expertise.

The Summit started at 10:00 this morning with breakout seminars, covering various topics related to aerial work platforms and mast climbing work platforms, including inspections and maintenance, accident reporting and safety training.

The main conference will follow in the afternoon. Among the speakers are Ron DeFeo, CEO and chairman of Terex, who will provide the key note speech. Tim Whiteman, CEO of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), is up next with a summary of the association’s annual research on the state of the powered access sector. Then, Andy Studdert, CEO of NES Rentals will talk about training in the modern industry, and Tim Hatch, vice president of global engineering at JLG Industries, will focus his talk on creating value for the customer.

Following the afternoon break, Jordan Barab, OSHA’s deputy assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, is set to talk about fall protection. The Summit will be rounded off by Michael Kneeland, president of United Rentals, who will look at the rental company of the future.

This is the first time the IPAF Summit and IAPAs are taking place in the US. The latter is co-organised by KHL Group’s Access International and Access Lift & Handlers (ALH) magazines. Mr Whiteman said he was delighted with the way the Summit has got started, “It's great that so many people are joining us here today for the US's first IPAF Summit and IAPA awards. I think it demonstrates how important an international event like this is for the industry, which is one of the reasons why we have attracted such an impressive line-up of speakers."

The glittering awards ceremony will take place this evening, and anticipation is growing among the shortlisted companies, all hoping to take home one of the coveted awards.
Here follows the shortlisted entries.

IPAF Safety Champion:
Peter Douglas
Kevin O’Shea
Brian Parker
Mauro Potrich

Access Rental Company of the Year
AFI-Uplift
Industrial Access
Nationwide Platforms
Trico Lift

Contribution to Safe Working at Height
AFI-Uplift
Industrial Access
Mills Rental
Nationwide Platforms

Product of the Year – Vehicle/trailer mounted
CTE
Ruthmann

Product of the Year – Self-propelled (booms, scissors, atrium lifts)
Bluelift
Cormidi
MEC

Product of the Year – Mast Climbing Work Platforms/Hoists
Alimak Hek
Geda
Scanclimber

Product of the Year – Low-level Access
The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony

Award for Outstanding After Sales Service
EZ Scaffold
IPS
Venpa Spa

Access Project of the Year
Harsco
Hydro Mobile
NES Rentals
Scanclimber

Best New IPAF Training Centre
Winner to be announced at the awards ceremony

IPAF Training Instructor of the Year
Rafael Bazzarella
Kevin O’Shea
Martin Wraith

Best Marketing Campaign for Safety and IPAF Training
Alo Training
BS Technology
Mastclimbers LLC

Lifetime achievement award
The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony

This year’s IAPA awards will for the second time include an Access Photograph of the Year competition, again generously sponsored by UK rental company Facelift Hire.
Gold sponsors for the event are Genie, JLG, Skyjack and Latchways Fall Protection. Silver sponsor is BlueSky Solutions, while Niftylift will sponsor the Networking Event and Haulotte Group will sponsor the IAPA Networking Reception.
For more information about both events, visit: www.iapa-summit.info