International Awards for Powered Access winners revealed in London

IAPAs 2017 Winners

More than 450 industry professionals gathered on 4 April 2017 in London, UK, to honour the winners of the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs). Jointly organised by Access International and IPAF, the IAPAs celebrate best practice and excellence in the powered access industry.

The turnout was a record attendance for the annual awards event, the next edition 
of which will be held on 8 March 2018 at the Hilton Miami Downtown Hotel, FL, USA. The 2017 IAPA winners, and judges’ comments, were as follows:

Access Rental Company of the Year

RIWAL, EUROPE/EURASIA
This company has a truly rounded approach which has helped it make great progress. It has also found time to be innovative with new technologies.

Powered Access Pioneer

ALO GROUP, CHILE
Converting people from risky work methods to access platforms in a young market is no easy task. Alo has pioneered this in Chile through its innovative Day of Height and in working with colleges to add risk prevention in the curriculum.

Contribution to Safe Working at Height

MODERN (ACCESS) & SCAFFOLDING, HONG KONG
Modern has a track record in modernising working at height practices in Hong Kong, and continued to push forward last year, introducing lower level access and lifeline products to the market.

Product of the Year – Mast climbing work platforms/hoists

ALIMAK HEK’S MAMMOTH TRIPLEX SYSTEM
This is a fantastic three-in-one product, with a central materials hoist flanked either side by two high-speed passenger hoists. A massive hoist arrangement for demanding projects. Very impressive engineering.

Product of the Year – Self-propelled above 20ft/6.1m

TEUPEN’S PUMA 42GTX
The judges were excited by this product. Combining an all-terrain Menzi Muck excavator chassis with a Leo 40GTX boom demonstrated imagination and exceptional engineering skills. The result is a truly functional extreme off-road lift.

Product of the Year – Vehicle/trailer-mounted

CTE’S B-LIFT 17E
We were impressed with the innovative battery technology, which allows the platform to work for a considerable time without using the engine, combined with its ability to work in narrow spaces.

Project of the Year

SMART PLATFORM SOLUTIONS for its SEA LOCK MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
This was an ingenious solution to a demanding task. Smart Platforms should be commended for its ‘outside the box’ thinking.

Innovative Technology

SERIOUS LABS, CANADA, for the VRSL: AWP TRAINER
This virtual reality simulator brings to the access industry technology that has previously only been available in the military and aerospace industries. It offers a fantastic learning experience for operators.

IPAF Training Centre of the Year

MANLIFT, MIDDLE EAST & INDIA
Manlift grew its training numbers by 35% last year, offered courses in eight languages, and is playing a significant role in developing training in the Middle East and India.

IPAF Training Instructor of the Year

ANDERSON PUFF of MILLS, BRAZIL
Anderson Puff achieved a great deal in 2016. He promoted training to state authorities, major companies and also embraced eLearning techniques, demonstrating a remarkable work ethic.

Access Photograph of the Year (sponsored by Facelift)

ED DARWIN, NATIONWIDE PLATFORMS, for Platform Inspecting a Gloster
The photo shows a Versalift platform donated by Nationwide inspecting a replica of the Gloster E28/39 aircraft, located close to Nationwide’s head office in Lutterworth and the first aircraft to use an engine designed by Frank Whittle, inventor of the turbojet.

IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award

ROGER BOWDEN, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, NIFTYLIFT, UK
In the late 1960s Roger Bowden embarked on a five-year student-apprenticeship scheme at Brunel University, sponsored by John Laing Construction. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology in 1971 and went on to serve as chief engineer for EPL International, the JLC specialist hire company, before forming a one-man sales company in 1977, then a rental company in 1980.

In 1985, he went on to start the company that would define his career. That company is Niftylift; which has grown since then to 460 employees with operations in more than 40 countries around the world.

Roger Bowden is passionate about engineering education and has supported the development of hundreds of apprentices and undergraduate engineers at Niftylift, which is also a long-term sponsor of the Engineering Education Scheme, nurturing young engineers, and runs an Institution of Mechanical Engineers Development Scheme.

Between 2004 and 2011, he chaired IPAF’s Manufacturer’s Technical Committee and in 2006 received an Honorary Doctorate at Brunel University for services to Engineering.

The independent, impartial judging panel spent a full day considering the more than 100 entries received. The judges made decisions based on the merit of each entry and were excluded from entering their company for any award. The 2017 judges were:

  • Andy Studdert, CEO of NES Rentals and IPAF Immediate Past President;
  • Eline Oudenbroek, managing director of Holland Lift International;
  • Kai Schliephake, managing director of PartnerLift;
  • Mike Evans, consultant and a past winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award;
  • Rick Mustillo, founder of Kookaburra Equipment Sales and president of Australia’s Elevating Work Platform Association;
  • Non-voting chair of judges: Euan Youdale, editor of Access International.

More event details are available at www.iapa-summit.info

Other news you might be interested in

  • The IPAF Middle East Conference, hosted at the Radisson Blu Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together industry professionals from around the world for a day of knowledge sharing, industry insights, and networking opportunities.

  • The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) supports European Rental Week, taking place from 14th to 20th October 2024. European Rental Week is an annual event that promotes the benefits and importance of the rental industry across Europe. It provides an opportunity for companies and associations to act together, raising awareness of the rental sector and its role in driving sustainability and innovation.

  • IPAF Elevation 2024, the UK’s standout event for the powered access industry, is fast approaching. Hosted by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), the annual event will take place on Thursday, 7 November 2024, at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.