Turkey’s IPAF membership grows by 75% in a year
Membership of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has more than doubled in Turkey following a concerted campaign to attract new members across the past year.
Following the appointment of a dedicated IPAF representative in the country, the membership has grown from a relatively small base by around 75% in a single year, to stand at 15 members at the end of 2016.
The latest addition has been Borusan Makina ve Güç Sistemleri, part of the Borusan Group, which distributes Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) equipment in Turkey as well as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and eastern Russia along with construction machinery manufacturer Caterpillar, its partner since 1994. In addition to Caterpillar, Borusan Makina ve Güç Sistemleri also undertakes distribution on behalf of Metso, Mantsinen, Mecalac, Terex O&K, Genie, MaK, EMD and SEM.
Following the official publication of ISO 18878 “Mobile elevating work platforms – Operator (driver) training” as TS ISO 18878 with the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE), IPAF will continue to build its profile in Turkey and the wider region and will work alongside its members to continue to promote the safe and effective use of powered access equipment.
Tim Whiteman, CEO & Managing Director of IPAF, says: “It’s fantastic to see the real impact IPAF has had in such a short space of time in Turkey. It reflects well on Burcu Ünal, IPAF’s dedicated representative in the region, which our concerted membership drive has seen numbers increase so dramatically, albeit from a relatively modest starting point.
“Bringing on board a major player such as Borusan Makina ve Güç Sistemleri will help us continue to get the message out about what IPAF can do for manufacturers, distributors, rental firms and operators of MEWP equipment, particularly in terms of accredited training support and helping companies become compliant with new industry standards. We also hope Borusan Makina ve Güç Sistemleri will be able to spread the message to neighbouring countries, given the company’s strong ties with machinery manufacturers and major infrastructure partners in the region.”