IAPA Winners Announced

A record audience of more than 450 people celebrated the winners of the third International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) on April 14, 2011 in Amsterdam.

Paul Adorian, former managing director of IPAF, and Pierre Saubot of the Haulotte Group were the joint winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The judges said that Paul Adorian had been crucial in creating IPAF and instrumental in developing what is now a worldwide operator training program. They described Pierre Saubot, a past president of IPAF, as one of the pioneers of the access industry in Europe with an enduring commitment to safety.

Other winners included Facelift Access Hire (Access Rental Company of the Year) and Harsco Infrastructure (Access Project of the Year for the Heron Tower job).

The IPAF Safety Champion Award went to Kevin O'Shea of U.S.-based Mastclimbers (for the second year running), and the Contribution to Safe Working at Height Award was given to UK-based ZT Safety Systems for its innovative safety harness. The Award for Outstanding After Sales Service was won by Independent Parts & Service (IPS).

The three awards open to IPAF members only went to: BS Technology from Singapore (Best Marketing Campaign for IPAF Training), Gurpartap Singh from Dubai of Rapid/Lavendon Group (IPAF Training Instructor of the Year), and Italian company Piattaforme Aeree Formazione (PAF) (Best New IPAF Training Centre).

The four Product of the Year Awards were taken by: MEC Aerial Platforms (for the Titan Boom), Custom Equipment (HB-830 scissor), CTE (B-Lift 20.13 truck mount) and Alimak Hek (for the Scando 650 hoist). The judges also presented a Highly Commended citation to Oil & Steel/HCNL for the Snake 2714 compact in the vehicle mounted category.

The independent judging panel were: Roger Bowden, chairman, Niftylift, UK; Mike Watts, president, Sunstate Equipment, U.S.; Gerhard Hillebrand, IPAF-Italia representative; Steve Shaughnessy, IPAF president; and Murray Pollok, managing editor, Access International.

The IAPAs are jointly organized by Access International and IPAF. The 2011 awards were sponsored by Iron Planet (headline sponsor), gold sponsors: the Alo Group, Genie and Haulotte, and silver sponsor JLG.

The next IAPAs will be held on March 29, 2012 in Rome, Italy. Watch for event details at www.iapasummit.info.

The full list of winners and the citations from the judges were as follows:

Facelift Access Hire, UK (Access Rental Company of the Year)

Of the winner the judges said: "This company showed an exceptional performance in a challenging year. It has produced an acclaimed safety guide and has been consistently innovative with creative and unique marketing reflecting the company's character."

Paul Adorian and Pierre Saubot (Joint Winners - Lifetime Achievement Award)

The judges said Mr Adorian had helped establish the UK as one of the world's

best developed access markets. He was the first person to establish a successful access rental company in the UK, was crucial in the creation of IPAF and led the organisation as MD for many years. He was also pivotal in creating the training programme which is now such an important part of the organisation's activities. "He continues to play an active role in the industry, running one of the best known notified bodies in the UK, PAC."

Mr. Saubot, said the judges, is one of the pioneers of the European access sector, and a past president of IPAF. "He has built one of the major manufacturers in the world - Haulotte - and has worked hard throughout his long career to promote the use of powered access worldwide. He is still very active in the industry and at Haulotte, and remains one of the true leaders of this industry."