IAPAs and IPAF Summit this week

The International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) and the IPAF Summit take place in Miami on Thursday (8 March). It is set to be a great event thanks to an outstanding shortlist and the usual gathering of delegates from the global access industry. There are still a few last minute spaces left, so book your seat today. 

Registered delegates to the IPAF Summit can download the IPAF event app to participate in live polls, submit questions to speakers, give feedback and interact with other delegates during the day. Find out how to download this easy-to-use tool on the IPAF Summit/IAPAs homepage.

IAPA awards

With more than 100 high-quality entries received across the 13 categories in the IAPAs 2018, the judges had their work cut out to decide the winners and shortlist. As always, the judging panel comprised five independent access industry experts with long-standing experience in the business.

Jointly hosted by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and Access International, the IAPAs celebrate best practice in the access industry and is the perfect way to renew and strengthen relationships with customers, industry contact and colleagues from all over the world.

Both the organisers would like to thank everyone who took part and encourage those who did not make the shortlist this year to enter again for the 2019 awards.

The full shortlist, with a summary of each entry, is published in the January/February issue of AI.

IPAF Summit

Taking place on the same day as the IAPAs, is the IPAF Summit, which this year boasts a world class speaker line-up, represented by leading authorities in the access sector.

The Summit is free to attend, although requires advance registration, and this year has the theme: Quantifying Sustainability.

Speakers include: Diego Benetton (Maber Hoist Srl), Brad Boehler (President, Skyjack), Guruprasad Bandekar (VP, Global Engineering, JLG), Jim Colvin (Serious Labs), James Dorris (VP, United Rentals), Peter Douglas (Executive Director, Nationwide Platforms), Dan Kaplan (Daniel Kaplan Assoc.), Michael Kneeland (CEO, United Rentals), Pedro Luis Fernández Pérez (CEO, GAM Alquiler), Bill Plummer (EVP/CFO, United Rentals), Nick Selley (Director, AFI), Andrew Studdert (Former CEO, NES) and Norty Turner (CEO, Riwal).

Delegates to the IPAF Summit can also take the opportunity of visiting a United Rentals location on Friday 9 March and gain a unique insight the operations of the world’s largest rental company. Advance registration required.

The home stadium of top NBA basketball team Miami Heat will be the venue for the traditional networking reception the day before the Summit and awards. The arena is less than 2km from the host hotel and buses will take you there.

IAPA judges

The announcement of the shortlist followed the judges’ meeting in London, UK, on 16 January. Thanks to the depth of knowledge and experience across the independent judging panel, winners of each award can be justifiably proud.

Recently retired, Chris Bowers served as senior vice president, customer strategy, sales and marketing at US-based NES Rentals from 2005 to 2017 when NES was sold to United Rentals.

Chris Carmolingo has been regional vice president at BlueLine Rental, in the US, since 2015. Before that he was president and CEO at access specialist Trico Lift.

Ib Steffensen is the director of the lift department at truck mounted platform and crane rental company BMS and a member of its executive board. He has been employed at BMS since 2009 and has been in the rental industry for 25 years.

Nick Selley is business development director at UK-based access equipment rental company AFI Group and was this year inaugurated as IPAF president.

Tobias Ritzenhöfer is the director of engineering at Germany-based tracked platform manufacturer Teupen Maschinenbau, which also produces the self propelled extreme off-road Puma lift. Ritzenhöfer has huge experience in the industry and at Teupen, having started at the company in 1996 as an apprentice mechanic.