26.03.2010

IPAF has a new president

Steve Shaughnessy of Skyjack took over from John Ball as IPAF president today at the AGM and Summit in London. Ball retires after completing his two year term.
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John Ball hands over the president's chain to Steve Shaughnessy

Speakers at the Summit were all of an exceptionally high standard and kicked off with Ward Bushnell and Roger Brown, the previous owners of Genie who went on to win the IPAF Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards dinner afterwards.
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Roger Brown and Ward Bushnell impart their wisdom

The final of the five speakers was David Shipman who gave a gloomy overview of the industry’s current state and likely mid term prospects before pointing out that it need not be so. But that the industry had to speak with a single voice to change it.

He called on IPAF to be the single voice and to promote the industry as a whole to new users and help convert users of other access equipment over to powered access with a marketing campaign and committed £25,000 of funding from AFI as long as the rest of the industry stumped up at least a further £75,000.

He also said that the industry as a whole to raise the safety and training aspects of a rental in order to achieve better overall returns/rates.
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David Shipman of AFI in full flow

As part of this campaign he called on IPAF again to promote its MEWPs for Managers course and for rental companies to start charging for proper familiarisation training or to build it into the rates.

At the awards dinner the winners were?

Best marketing campaign for IPAF training – Alo Rental, Chile

IPAF instructor of the year – joint winners – Jildou de Jong of Kamphuis,Holland
- Gerry de Palmer of HSS, UK
Best new IPAF training centre – BS Technology, Singapore

Access Industry sustainability award – RSC Rentals, USA

Access industry training award – Serfin, Italy

Access Int new product of the year award – Mecaplus ME12SL Spain

Contribution to safe working at height, Manufacturer – Niftylift UK

Contribution to safe working a height, rental company –A-Plant UK

Contribution to safe working a height, End User – Crown House Technology UK

Mast climbing work platform achievement award – Harsco Infrastructure UK

IPAF safety champion of the year – Joint winners – Brad Boehler, Skyjack,Canada
-Kevin O’Shea, Mastclimbers, USA
Access Rental company of the year – Lavendon Access Services, UK

Lifetime achievement award – Ward Bushnell, Bob Wilkerson and Roger Brown, USA

More information on the Summit speakers and presentations in the next Cranes & Access