Close to 300 industry professionals gathered on March 26, 2015 in Washington, D.C. to recognize and honor the winners of the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs).  Jointly organized by Access International, Access Lift & Handlers and IPAF, the IAPAs celebrate best practice and excellence in the powered access industry. The next IPAF Summit and IAPAs will be held on March 17, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.

The 2015 IAPA winners are:

Access Rental Company of the Year

Mateco, Germany

The judges said thiscompany had a strong year, growing revenues, expanding its fleet, opening new depots, and maintaining high fleet utilization levels. In addition, it made a valued contribution to training its customers.

Contribution to Safe Working at Height

Teresa Kee, Director, Environmental, Health & Safety, NES Rentals, U.S.

The judges said this person deserved recognition for her sustained contribution to driving safety in the AWP industry through her work to evolve NES’ health and safety policy and her contribution to developing industry standards and consciousness.

Contribution to Safe Working at Height—Winner

HSS Hire, UK

For the company’s commitment to secondary guarding systems on its boom fleet, the judges said there was a conscious strategy to make the company’s machines safer by investing in this specific secondary guarding equipment as standard.

Outstanding Customer Service

NES Rentals, U.S.

The judges were impressed by the company’s external audit system that measures how successfully it is satisfying its customers. There is a “top-down commitment to customer service and safety.”

Powered Access Pioneer

Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, China

The company was brave and visionary in entering the China market that was still at a very early stage of development. Last year it made significant progress in introducing aerial platforms to new customers.

Product of the Year—Low Level Access

Faraone Industrie, Italy, for the Elevah 40 Move

The Elevah 40 Move is a self-propelled unit that offers a 4 metre working height and weighs just 140 kg. It is easy to transport and handle, ultra-compact and ultra-lightweight.

Product of the Year—Mast Climbing Work Platforms/Hoists

Maber Costruzioni, Italy, for the construction hoist MB A 2000/150

The MB A 2000/150 is a 2,000 kilogram capacity hoist that can be delivered already assembled in a 40 foot standard cube container. A key feature is that mast erection is done from inside the cage, meaning safer and faster installation.

Product of the Year—Self-Propelled (Booms, Scissors, Atrium Lifts)

Holland Lift International, Netherlands, for the Hybrid HL-275 H25 4WD/P/N

The judges were impressed by the hybrid system for such a large scissor. The HL-275 is a 27.5 m working height scissor that uses a parallel hybrid power unit. Fuel consumption is reduced by a third in hybrid operation.

Product of the Year—Vehicle/Trailer Mounted

Palfinger Platforms, Germany, for the P480

Palfinger Platforms has taken the category of twin-axle truck mounts to new heights with the P480 offering a maximum working height of 48 m and outreach of 31.5 m. Another notable feature is a rotating basket design offering 200 degree rotation in both directions.

Project of the Year

Scanclimber, Finland, and Scan-Rent and PMB Façade Technology, Malaysia

Their extension mast climbing work platform installation on the new IB Tower in Kuala Lumpur included 40 working platforms operating at heights of up to 300 m. This was a joint entry from Finnish manufacturer Scanclimber and two Malaysian companies, rental firm Scan-Rent and cladding contractor PMB Façade Technology. The judges said some of the statistics were almost unbelievable.

IPAF Training Center of the Year

A-Plant, UK

In a busy year for the company, A-Plant managed to open three new training centers and generated revenues of almost a quarter of a million pounds in IPAF training activities alone.It delivered IPAF training to 1,400 customers.

IPAF Training Instructor of the Year

Hansen Ng Wee Han, BS Technology, Singapore

Among his achievements, last year was for conducting his first IPAF training course for Chinese customers, in Mandarin. As a senior instructor, he has also laid out ambitious plans for the training at BS Technology in the coming years. The judges said his structured approach and appetite for learning were very impressive.

Access Photograph of the Year

Jo Till, director at GT Access, UK

One of GT Access’ Skyjack SJ66T booms is used at Avoncroft Museum, near Birmingham, UK. The lift was carrying out repairs to the 19 century windmill at the museum.

IPAF and Access International Lifetime Achievement Award

Raymond Smith, U.S.

Raymond Smith started working for his father at the RE Smith Manufacturing Co. in 1949. They manufactured specialty sheet metal bending or forming equipment. He bought the company from his father in 1962, and then, at the urging of a customer, Iowa Sheet Metal Contractors.

He developed a push around lift so their 400 outside work crews could install their equipment more safely and easily. This was in 1969. In 1972 he developed a self-loading device for this push around. In 1972 he also introduced a line of battery powered scissor lifts under the Mite-E Lift brand. In 1982 the company was sold to Lift-a-loft.

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