Bringing People Home Safely

Q&A with Karel Huijser, IPAF President and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG.

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IPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel Huijser
IPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel Huijser
JLG Industries

Karel Huijser serves as the General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, a position he has held for nearly 12 years. His involvement with IPAF started through his leadership role at JLG and continued throughout. His role ensures the region operates efficiently to support customers and their customers while contributing to the company. For him, all players in the industry, make a difference in the lives of those who operate and service the company's products and solutions.  

After returning to school at 50 and attending a university in uptown New York City, his master's in value-driven leadership led Karel to the Oshkosh Corporation and subsequently to JLG finding that his values matched those of both companies well. We connected with Karel through email for a few questions.

Rental: Why the access equipment industry?

IPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel HuijserIPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel HuijserInternational Powered Access FederationThis industry, like my company, embodies admirable values. Beyond business goals, our central mission is to ensure safety for the end-users of our products and services. As an engineer by trade, it’s a great product to work with and an industry to work in. 

Rental: Can you share some favorite stories from your 12 years at JLG and working with IPAF?

Back in 2014, I had an encounter with Brian King at an IPAF Summit in the UK. We hit it off by chatting about the amazing company he and Mark Robinson had built. Fast forward a year, we acquired their company. In 2020, amidst the chaos of COVID and under the new leadership of Jonnie Dawson, we proudly opened a brand-new factory. Our first M&A move since Oshkosh acquired JLG in 2006. That acquisition reignited our M&A spark, and we've been on a roll ever since. Bringing Hinowa into the fold a couple of years ago, a stellar company we've had a fantastic 12.5-year relationship with, and, as you might have noticed, we recently announced an exciting merger with AUSA, another great company we've partnered with for some years already. 

Another story is about a lively debate with my four millennial kids. As usual, they ganged up on this boomer, grilling me about our responsibility for the planet. But when I brought up the circular economy and pointed out that our industry has been a sharing industry for many years—long before sustainability became a buzzword—they were stunned into silence. They were even more impressed when they learned that electrification has been a top priority in our industry for decades and will remain a top priority for all. 

Rental: What has been your journey with IPAF so far?

It's been fascinating. I was introduced to IPAF by the Past President, Wayne Lawson, and joined the council, which is clearly the heart of the organization. With Peter Douglas leading the Federation, it’s an honor and pleasure to be the current president. One of my wishes is to build an even stronger relationship among IPAF, the ERA, and GRA, which has already been strongly improved since Peter took the CEO role.  

Rental: What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?

We've faced numerous challenges, including the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and some economic setbacks. Personal tragedies also struck, with one employee heavily injured and another fatally injured—both were top service people and well-known in the industry. 

You don’t overcome losing people. We can only be aware of our strong responsibility for safety and make sure we all do everything together to avoid accidents. Overcoming economic setbacks is a totally different story. In the 12 years I have seen it, the market always bounces back.  

Rental: During the pandemic, I understand JLG started an email initiative using the #HappyMonday hashtag. Is this still going on?

Yes, it’s still going strong, with over 200 #HappyMonday emails. It’s a way to start the workweek on a positive note, in contrast to TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday). I write these emails at 9 AM every Monday, focusing on various topics from business updates to inspirational quotes of famous writers or leaders. IPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel HuijserIPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel HuijserInternational Powered Access Federation

Rental: What did you learn?

While people initially thought it unusual, they soon began sharing personal advice about situations they wouldn't normally discuss. This led to conversations I had never had before. Understanding that not everyone reads all memos, I started hash-tagging the subjects in the email titles to pique interest and encourage people to read them. 

Rental: How can IPAF members integrate a similar program at their companies?

By simply starting it. Realizing that it’s a commitment every week, you can’t skip a Monday. Thinking about the Happy Monday message helps me plan for the week ahead, enabling a strong start, hoping it inspires others to do the same. 

Rental: It’s been a few years since the pandemic, has the rental industry bounced back to a “new normal”? Are you optimistic about the upcoming years?

We’ve bounced back, but things will never be exactly as they were. However, I am optimistic that 2025 and 2026 will be strong years. 

Rental: You’ve said that, “Safety not only concerns today but also the future,” calling it “sustainable safety.” Can you expand on this?

Safety is a daily commitment in our industry. We must remain vigilant every day. Sustainable safety involves continuously sharing our successes and failures to learn and improve.

Rental: Are there any differences in the approach or issues regarding MEWP safety in the U.S. vs. worldwide?

Safety is a global purpose. Some countries have stricter legislation than others, but in the end, everybody around the globe puts safety first. IPAF wants to play a supporting role and is finding its way in the US. Some see IPAF as competition, yet we should find a way to collaborate in this journey to make our industry safer every day.  

Rental: What is the current status of the Women in Powered Access initiative?

Our immediate past president, Karin, continues to lead this initiative. I’ve supported it by sending an all-female delegation to the IPAF Summit in Berlin a year ago. I believe that diversity through inclusion is crucial for success. We will continue to support the initiative, ensuring it is not dependent on having a female president. It’s good to embrace diversity. We must also focus on the next generation, as millennials will soon lead this industry. 

There have been great sessions and high-quality presentations by women. In Berlin, we had speakers like Jay Iyengar, Oshkosh's Chief Technology Officer, and Susan Xu, CEO of Sinoboom. 

Rental: What advice do you have for people starting in the industry?

Enjoy your job and embrace our mission of bringing people home safely. 

Rental: What do you think IPAF members can do to bring more youth to the industry?

Share our story. Our industry's strong mission around safety and inspirational purpose should attract young, open-minded individuals. Also, our sustainability story, which I talked about earlier, is a strong one. If I can convince my own kids, we should be able to convince more millennials and even Gen Z to embrace our Industry.  IPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel HuijserIPAF President, and General Manager for the EMEAI region at JLG, Karel HuijserInternational Powered Access Federation

 Rental: What are your goals for your term as IPAF president?

  • Inclusion & Belonging: Continue the focus on diversity and inclusion
  • Storytelling: Emphasize sustainable safety by sharing stories of both success and failure to learn and improve
  • Globalization: Expand our presence outside the UK, with a focus on China, the U.S., India, and Saudi Arabia

Rental: What will IPAF's key initiatives be going forward?

  • "Crushing Can Kill!" Worldwide safety campaign 
  • Digitization of IPAF's training systems 
  • Launch a new operator training course by the end of 2024 
  • Further develop the ePAL app for enhanced functionality 
  • Achieve more than 50% of IPAF’s revenue from outside the UK in the next two years

By sharing stories about safety and focusing on global expansion, we aim to raise awareness and enhance safety standards every day. 

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