Euro platform 2007

It will be very difficult to miss the venue for the first Europlatform conference because Wumag's first 102 m truck mounted platform will, we hope, be stationed outside the Ramada Plaza Basel hotel where the event takes place.

The machine is being supplied courtesy of German rental company Eisele, who is the first buyer for the monster platform, and will give delegates an extra reason to attend the event.

First and foremost, however, is the programme for the conference, which combines topics in rental management with others on safety responsibilities of access rental companies. The full programme – see below – has now been confirmed, and includes contributions from big name companies and individuals including A–Plant, Zooom, AlimakHek, Bronto Skylift, UpRight Powered Access, Haulotte Group and IPAF itself.

Lavendon Group will give its view on responsible financial models for access rental; A–Plant's Steve Shaughnessy – who has considerable experience of the North American and European rental markets – will ask what Europeans can learn from US access rental companies; and Hubert Gardemann's first–hand account of the aftermath of a serious platform accident will concentrate the minds of access owners and managers.

We also have Haulotte Group's Pierrick Lourdain explaining the company's policy on rental, and proving some useful advice on how to develop emerging rental markets.

• Details on the venue and booking are on the event website – www.europlatform.info – which includes an online booking facility.