The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) concluded its annual global summit in Dubai last week in a programme that included the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs), which honoured excellence and best practices in the powered access industry.
The event, held for the first time in the Middle East, took place at the Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek hotel and included more than 300 top global professionals of the powered access industry. It was jointly organised by the IPAF and Access International magazine.
With a total of 13 categories, the awards had a shortlist of more than 46 nominees, including companies, products, technologies and people from across the world in the powered access industry. According to IPAF, the judging panel comprised “independent and impartial” experts, who “spent a full day considering the more than 100 entries received.
“The judges made decisions based on the merit of each entry and were excluded from entering their company for any award,” said the IPAF.
The 2019 judges were: Sergio Kariya, president, Brazil-based Mills Estruturas e Servicos de Engenharia; Teresa Kee, director, corporate safety at US-based United Rentals; Karin Nars, executive chairman at Finland-based Dinolift; Patrick Witte, vice president global sales and business development at US-based MEC Aerial Work Platforms; and Euan Youdale, Access International editor, the non-voting chair of the judging panel.
The evening award ceremony on March 6 was preceded by the day-long IPAF Summit, which discussed various topics facing the industry, such as digitalisation, training and safety, among others. The event concluded the next day with the delegates visiting the depot in Dubai’s DIP area of regional powered access rental powerhouse Manlift.
The full list of 2019 IAPA winners is as below, each award followed by judges’ comments:
IPAF Training Instructor of the Year: Charlie Ellis, Nationwide Platforms, UK
“He has had a positive impact on many people and is committed to the cause of training and safety. His involvement with IPAF shows his engagement with the industry’s future.”
IPAF Training Centre of the Year: ALS Safety, UK
“Their facilities are exceptional, and they are actively involved in developing relevant safety products.”
Product of the Year – Mast Climbing Work Platforms/Hoists: Alimak for its Mammoth TM
“This inspired product offers multiple ways to carry material and personnel and has the capacity to transport large machines and materials.”
Product of the Year – Vehicle/trailer-mounted: Bronto Skylift, Finland, for its S35EM truck
Judges praised “the platform’s capability to carry out a wide range of jobs despite its compact size. It also has an impressive outreach of 29m.”
Product of the Year – Scissor Lifts and Vertical Masts: Hybeko for its Tunnel 3390 RT scissor lift
“This is a unique machine, based on a Genie GT-3390 RT scissor, but adapted for the particular demands of tunnel work. It creates a machine that helps contractors work safely and productively on challenging sites.”
Product of the Year – Self-propelled Booms & Atrium Lifts: Almac, Italy, for its Jibbi 1250 Evo tracked boom
The judges complimented “the machine’s great versatility and attention to operator safety. For a boom lift it has exceptional capability to operate on a slope”.
Contribution to Safe Working at Height: Proud2bSafe, UK
“Jason Anker, through his company Proud2bSafe, is having a major impact on how people understand safety. He makes safety feel personal.”
Powered Access Pioneer: Dingli, China
“Since 2005 Dingli’s influence has grown worldwide. Its growth in its home market of China has placed it at the centre of efforts to introduce modern access equipment, improving safety for countless workers on site.”
Digital Development: JLG Industries, USA, for its BIM library
“JLG has been leading the way in the creation of BIM models of mobile elevating work platforms. It offers the real prospect of benefits in productivity and safety planning.”
Access Rental Company of the Year: A-Plant, UK
“A-Plant isn’t just a fast-growing company with an impressive financial performance, it also has a customer and industry-focused approach and tries to make improvements to the industry as a whole.”
Innovative Technology: Skyjack, Canada, for its Elevate On App
“This mobile phone App is part of Skyjack’s Elevate package and provides operators with a paperless working environment on site and is making a real difference for equipment users.”
Access Photograph of the Year: Santeri Keranen, Finland
Santeri’s fantastic photo shows technicians from Bladefence using two 104m Bronyo Skylift S104HLA truck mounts, belonging to rental company Janneniska, to inspect turbine blades at a height of 98m. The photo was taken in southern Finland.
IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award: John L. Grove, US, cranes and access pioneer
Tim Whiteman, CEO and MD of IPAF, said: “The Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to celebrate a person who has made a significant impact on our industry. There can be no doubt that our recipient this year – John L Grove, who is honoured posthumously – is richly deserving.
“His name is synonymous with access and cranes. He was the co-founder of two of the most famous American crane and access manufacturing companies. He created Grove cranes in 1947 – at the age of 26 – and in 1969 was co-founder of JLG Industries, which quickly became a pioneer in boom and scissor production. By the time he retired from JLG in 1993 it had become a world-leader in aerial platform manufacturing.
“He was a passionate engineer, endlessly creative, and the holder of 60 patents at the time of his death in 2003.”
The judging panel added: “He’s a legendary figure in the industry and played a key role in the inception of the platform access business. As 2019 sees the 50th anniversary of JLG, now feels timely to award this long over-due accolade.”
