News

Sustainability, digitisation and adopting exciting new technologies are all key to building back better from the coronavirus pandemic, according to presenters at this year’s IPAF Summit, hosted for the first time as a virtual event owing to the global health crisis.

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.

Tributes have been paid to two pioneers of the powered access rental industry, after Dan Kaplan and Denis Ashworth died within the past two weeks. Both were previous recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards bestowed by IPAF, as part of previous years’ International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) ceremonies.

This year’s IPAF Summit, hosted for the first time ever as a global virtual event on 18 March 2021, from 3pm GMT, will focus on sustainability, digitisation and the challenges and opportunities facing powered access as the world emerges from the pandemic.

The next in a series of free online workshops and webinars hosted IPAF will look at the importance of selecting the correct MEWP for the job to enable work to be carried out safely and effectively. The webinar will be broadcast on 24 March at 12pm GMT.

IPAF’s new digital operator app called ePAL for users of MEWP and MCWP equipment will be a game-changer for worksite safety and efficiency, as well as sustainability.

This notice is to formally advise members that the next Annual General Meeting of the International Powered Access Federation will take place at 16:30 (UK) on March 17 2021 via virtual attendance.

Booking is now open for this year’s IPAF Summit, which will be hosted for the first time ever as a global virtual event in conjunction with a digital prize-giving ceremony for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) on 18 March 2021.

IPAF is pleased to welcome Alimak Group, the global mast-climbing work platform (MCWP) and construction hoist manufacturer, as its fourth Sustaining Member.

IPAF Members are being invited to make short videos or send in pictures, showing how they have helped their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, for inclusion in the IPAF Summit and IAPA awards.

IPAF and the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) have signed an agreement to work together to promote safety and training in powered access throughout the US, Canada and Mexico.

Training developed by IPAF has been translated into Swedish for the first time owing to booming demand for trained MEWP operators across the Nordic & Baltic region.

IPAF has assured its members and the wider industry that powered access operations remain a vital part of UK construction, facilities, processing and maintenance supply chains, and as such companies should continue to operate during the latest lockdown.

IPAF Members are invited to subscribe to No Falls Foundation Newsletter 'SAVING LIVES'

New country representatives for Spain and Switzerland have been appointed by IPAF: Javier Cerezo will be the federation’s new rep in Spain, while Christine Lell steps up from acting in an interim capacity to take on the role full time for Switzerland.

Information gathered in a worldwide project to report accidents and near-misses has informed a major update to IPAF’s comprehensive training course on how to load and unload MEWPs and other plant equipment safely from trucks or trailers.

Industry stakeholders are invited to join the next free IPAF webinar on 10 December at 12pm GMT, offering a review of a tumultuous year in powered access and outlining some exciting initiatives for the year ahead.

An agreement has been signed between IPAF and member firm Trackunit to develop and deliver a new operator-focused app called ePAL, which will be free to download and will feature a digital IPAF PAL Card, operator log book, and vital safety guides.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between IPAF and the Turkish Rental, Manufacturer and Distributor Association of MEWPs, PLATFORMDER.

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College will host a virtual meeting to showcase the new Lift Truck and Powered Access Apprenticeship to IPAF members