The shortlist for the 2019 IAPAs has been announced, following a meeting of judges in Amsterdam. Those wishing to attend the IAPAs dinner and awards ceremony on 6 March in Dubai, UAE, are reminded the early-bird discount expires on 31 January.

The speakers for this year’s IPAF Summit in Dubai, UAE, on 6 March have been announced, with Matt Fearon, Genie President, and Peter Schrader, MD of Zeppelin Rental, among the names confirmed. Those wishing to attend the IAPAs dinner and presentation ceremony are reminded the early-bird discount expires on 31 January.

Booking is now open for the first IPAF UK regional meeting of 2019, which will be at the Holiday Inn, Wakefield, on Wednesday 6 February, beginning at 6:30pm. The line-up of speakers is confirmed, and those wishing to attend are urged to book now.

IPAF’s latest safety campaign is called Street Smart and emphasises the importance of working safely at height using MEWPs on or next to roads. It is being launched by IPAF at the bauma 2019 expo at Messe München, Munich, Germany, 8-14 April.

Adopting digital technology, utilising big data and embracing Lean management techniques to deliver streamlined depots were among the themes of this year’s IPAF Summit, held at the Radisson Blu Deira Creek Hotel, Dubai, on 6 March 2019.

New eXtended Reality (XR) Technologies including virtual reality (VR) and MEWP simulators will soon be enhancing operator training, though not likely to replace practical testing for the foreseeable future, states a new strategy document from IPAF.

IPAF will officially launch its 2019 global safety campaign at the giant bauma construction equipment showcase near Munich, Germany, 8-14 April 2019. IPAF’s stand is confirmed as 711 in C4 hall of the exhibition site, and will also feature a sophisticated MEWP simulator, which proved very popular at IPAF’s events in 2018.

IPAF has signed an agreement with ASEAMAC, the Spanish Rental Association, to collaborate on projects and events and to offer discounted affiliate rates on subscriptions and events to members of each organisation. The agreement was signed by Tim Whiteman, CEO & MD of IPAF, and Juan José Torres, President of ASEAMAC, at ASEAMAC’s Annual Conference in Madrid, Spain.

TIME International in Farsoe, Denmark, has now received accreditation as an official IPAF training centre, as Denmark experiences heightened demand for MEWP operator training, with more than 1,000 IPAF PAL Cards issued over the past 12 months.

Representatives IPAF had a busy week in Shanghai, presenting at the International Rental Conference and exhibiting at bauma China, meeting members, health & safety representatives and others in powered access, a rapidly growing industry in China.

The IPAF North America Regional Council presented its first industry workshop event in Houston Texas October 16-17 and the new Innovate event received great reviews from the attendees.

Andy Access and Napo, the larger-than-life mascots for IPAF and the EU-OSHA, have collaborated in a vivid stage performance to share some of best practice guidance when working with mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). The performance took place during the first EMAF International Seminar - Safety Machinery, Mobile Elevating Work Platforms and Work Equipment, in Portugal.