IPAF ANCH’IO 2026: Safety as a business choice, when decision-making becomes the most difficult challenge

There comes a time when every entrepreneur faces an uncomfortable question: can we afford to maintain the same safety standards in such a rapidly changing environment?

Tariffs, rising costs, ever-longer machine life cycles, and margin pressures: the aerial lift market is undergoing a transformation that is testing not only business models but also companies' decision-making capacity.

It is from this awareness that IPAF ANCH'IO 2026 was born, the fourth edition of the annual event promoted by IPAF in Italy, scheduled for May 22 at Villa Baiana (BS). A day of discussion, vision, and responsibility that will bring together rental companies, manufacturers, builders, trainers, and industry stakeholders for an open and participatory dialogue.

Safety isn't a cost. It's a decision.

The central message of the 2026 edition is clear: safety is a business choice. Not a requirement, not a cost item to be reduced in difficult times, but a strategic decision that defines the organizational model, the industrial vision, and, ultimately, the type of entrepreneurs we want to be.

The day will open with an official greeting from IPAF CEO & Managing Director Peter Douglas, who will offer an international perspective on the role and excellence of the Italian sector.

This will be followed by an initial discussion dedicated to one of the most pressing issues: the impact of economic pressures on safety. A talk show featuring industry leaders will analyse how factors such as rising costs, new tariffs, the geopolitical context, and the lengthening life cycle of machinery are influencing - and sometimes stressing - business decisions.

This won't be an abstract debate, but a concrete comparison, based on data, experiences, and differing perspectives, because only by addressing the problem with clarity can credible answers be developed.

Security as a system: a shared responsibility

The heart of the morning will be dedicated to the pillars of safety, developed as a path that crosses the entire supply chain.

From design and production to rental, from training to maintenance and components, it's a systemic approach that reaffirms a simple but crucial truth: that safety isn't the responsibility of one person alone, but the result of a functioning supply chain.

There will then be an interactive session, involving the public directly, dedicated to debunking insurance myths. The aim is to debunk common misconceptions and raise awareness of real risks and how to manage them correctly.

The experiential afternoon: deciding is an art

In the afternoon, the format will shift pace to become more narrative and experiential. Through the metaphor of "game" - decisions, risks, bluffing, and responsibility - participants will be guided through a concrete reflection on how companies address market challenges: economic crises, technological changes, generational transitions.

A key moment will be dedicated to the shared identification of security allies and enemies within organisations: a collective awareness exercise that in previous editions has generated some of the most significant discussions of the entire day.

The special guest: deciding under pressure

The special guest will be Luigi La Monica, international basketball referee and author of the book Decidere, who will bring an original and powerful perspective on the theme of decision-making under pressure, ambiguity, and limited time.

The parallel with the business world is immediate: just as a referee is called upon to make rapid, high-impact decisions, those working in the lifting sector are faced with complex decisions every day, often without having all the information available.

His reflection will represent the culmination of a day built around a key question: how do you make good decisions when it's difficult to do so?

Beyond the Event: Building a Culture

IPAF ANCH'IO 2026 is not just an event, but an explicit invitation to the entire sector to question its future: do we want to be a sector that reacts to accidents or one that prevents them?

The day will conclude with a reminder of the IPAF Code of Ethics, reaffirming the association's commitment to promoting not only technical and training standards, but a true international culture of safety, rooted in the daily decisions of businesses.

For more information, visit the event website or contact [email protected]