Industry winners celebrated in first-ever digital IAPAs

More than 900 industry professionals from no fewer than 66 different countries around the world joined the first ever digital edition of the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs), with prize-winners announced during the IPAF Summit, originally planned for London in April 2020, but postponed and then moved online owing to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. It was also announced during the event that the 2022 IPAF Summit & IAPAs will return to being held as a physical event, in London, UK.

Jointly organised by Access International and IPAF, the IAPAs celebrate excellence in the powered access industry, and this was the first time it was held as a virtual event, with Summit delegates and IAPAs nominees coming together remotely from around the world. The 2020/21 IAPA winners and judges’ comments were as follows:

IPAF TRAINING CENTRE OF THE YEAR
Kompetenzzentrum für Arbeitssicherheit, Switzerland
The judges said the company has provided an impressive and consistent increase in the number of trainees. Its focus on the training process has helped to substantially grow IPAF training and awareness across the Swiss market.

IPAF TRAINING INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR
Andrew Williams – UTN Training

Renowned for his commitment to training, Andrew Williams adapts his course delivery methods to meet the needs of individual delegates and has received high praise on his delivery methods, course paperwork and his interaction with IPAF training delegates.

ACCESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Media Access Solutions (MAS)
Guillaume Thorel, truck-mount operator, Loxam Group (PAD)
This winning shot was taken from the basket of a Multitel Pagleiro MJ700 truck-mount at the Port Le Havre petrochemical plant in France. Once the truck mount’s outriggers had been safely extended, the operator Guillaume Thorel had to extend the boom vertically through low-lying cloud to reach the area that required maintenance. The judges said this was a great picture that summed up the day-to-day challenges faced by aerial platform operators in the field.

ACCESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP
William Currie, pictured submitted by Access Platform Sales
This inspiring picture was taken as Ian McClelland, a Northern Ireland-based tree surgeon, was carrying out work in client William Currie’s garden using his Hinowa Lightlift 26.14 Performance IIIS tracked platform. Currie noticed the scene unfolding and took this shot. The judges said it was a wonderful picture, taken with perfect timing.

CONTRIBUTION TO SAFE WORKING AT HEIGHT
Online Outrigger Pad Calculator from Outriggerpads
The judges commented that this free online device will enhance the safety of all those who use it. It is the product of a university research study and has been objectively and scientifically tested, therefore holds huge potential across access sector.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR – MAST-CLIMBING WORK PLATFORMS/HOISTS
Scanclimber’s Heavy Duty work platform
The judges said this is an incredibly innovative product, which is very easy to use. Its ability to free stand to 30 metres is amazing, and the fact it can reach 55 metres with only a top tie is impressive.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR – VEHICLE-MOUNTED PLATFORMS
Steiger TB 300 from Ruthmann
The judges said this product is potentially a market game-changer, with its incredible outreach on a compact base. the technology is ideally suited for access in cities with strict emissions restrictions.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR – SCISSOR LIFTS & VERTICAL MAST PLATFORMS
Snorkel for its S3019E scissor lift
The judges appreciated the sunken scissor pack. The scissor system means a lower stowed height which leads to greater safety margins, safer loading and unloading, towing and entry and exit of the basket.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR – SELF PROPELLED BOOMS & ATRIUM LIFTS
Niftylft for its HR17NE all-electric drive boom
The judges said it is a unique product. The combination of its narrow width, electric power and outreach, means nothing on the market comes near it.

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Riwal for its range of digital initiatives
The judges were impressed with the rental companies’ range of offerings designed to support its customer, especially in augmented reality. These innovations are completely relevant to the industry in every aspect of their business, the judges said.

ACCESS RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR
mateco, Germany
The judges said mateco’s achievements were impressive across the spectrum, with excellent growth, combined with its expansion into two new markets and its range of digital solutions. With 14,500 operators trained and the integration of the mateco brand across multiple countries, leading to the opening of 12 depots in one year, it is a worthy winner.

IAPA INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY PRIZE
Hinowa for its TeleCrawler13
The judges said this world-first direct-electric-drive tracked platform was outstanding and, combined with a range of other innovative features, made it as close to a perfect machine as possible heading for today’s powered access market.

IPAF/ACCESS INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Roger Wickens, UK, Nationwide Platforms (Loxam Powered Access Division)
Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF, spoke about Roger Wickens, who died in 2019, who is the latest recipient of this award in recognition of a lifetime’s service to the industry: “In May 2019 the powered access sadly lost an industry veteran and one of life’s true gentlemen. He leaves an impressive legacy behind, both within the powered access industry as a whole and to those that were fortunate to know him personally.

“Roger started his career as a trainee mechanic in 1972 and got into plant as a forklift service engineer in 1977. He joined Scott Greenham Access in 1983 and progressed to the position of service manager by 1987. He then joined Nationwide Platforms in 1989 as National Service Manager, based in Scunthorpe, overseeing just 200 machines.

“Over the years, he worked with Nationwide Platforms to grow the business to what it is today. As the then Lavendon Group grew, Roger played a major part in opening depots in new territories including Dubai, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong and France, which led him to his final role of Group Technical Manager based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, UK. He was actively involved with IPAF and in recent years joined the European Rental Association’s Technical Committee to reflect the company’s European involvement, especially following Lavendon’s acquisition by French-owned Loxam in 2017.

“I knew Roger for the whole of my 27 years with Nationwide and would simply say he was a very lucky guy: He spent the whole time I knew him in the perfect role for him – a job he loved in an industry he loved. He made a huge impact not just on Nationwide but the whole powered access industry.”

Roger’s wife Anne acknowledged the award, which will be presented in person to her as soon as the coronavirus restrictions allow, adding in a note of thanks: “It is a privilege and an honour to accept this award on Roger’s behalf – I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Roger spent his entire working life in the field of engineering, with 30 years or so in the powered access industry. To say he loved his work would be an understatement – it was his passion. I was always amazed at the huge amount of technical knowledge and know-how stored in his mind which he readily shared with others. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him.”

Thanks go to all event sponsors: CMC, Sinoboom, Trackunit, ZTR, Hinowa, Alimak and Imer Group. Details of all the shortlisted entrants and this year’s judging panel of industry experts are available at www.iapa-summit.info