IAPA 2023 judges announced

The judges for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) 2023 have been confirmed.

Taking place in Berlin, Germany, on 20 April, the IAPAs are on the same day as the IPAF Summit and celebrate excellence and best practice in the access industry.

Comprising five longstanding access experts, with a wealth of knowledge across the sector, the independent judging panel will consider entries for 12 categories this year across a range of themes.

They include new products, digital and technological development, safety and the new category introduced for the 2022 awards, sustainability. There will also be the usual Rental Company of the Year award and IPAF-specific categories for training instructors and training centres.

The IAPA awards are open for entry now, with the deadline for submissions being 15 December 2022.

IAPA 2023 JUDGING PANEL

Xu Shugen, chairman, Dingli. Dingli has grown to become one of the largest access equipment manufacturers in the world, over its 20-year history. Founded by Xu Shugen, the company offers a full range of scissor, boom and vertical mast lifts with the expansion of its electric and hybrid rough terrain equipmet being an example of recent product developments.

Wayne Taylor, managing director of Safelift LLC, based in Abu Dhabi. Taylor has long industry, including at Grove Cranes - Manlift, UK access rental companies Nationwide Platforms and Hi-Reach, before rising to the post of managing director of Safelift. He is also vice chairman of IPAF’s Middle East Regional Council.

Karin Nars, managing director of Finland-based Dinolift and president of IPAF. Knars joined the IPAF council in 2010, having joined the federation in the late 1990’s with Dinolift. Roll forward to 2022 and Nars now steers Dinolift as its managing director, with its range of specialist lightweight boom lifts, truck mounts, spider lifts and trailer mounts.

Marco Govoni, sales and marketing director, Italy-based truck mount and spider lift manufacturer CTE. Govoni started his career in 1990 at Italian truck mounted manufacturer Bizzocchi where he became export manager, before moving to Socage in 2000. Govoni returned to Bizzocchi until it was acquired By CTE in 2007 and from 2021 he has been vice president sales, marketing and Service.

Sandra Franco, founder of Chile-based ALO Group. ALO operates in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Panama and Colombia, and has a rental fleet of more than 1800 units. Franco was instrumental in the opening of the first IPAF operator training centre outside Europe: ALO Training, in Santiago, Chile. Today, she is focused on developing the industry in Central America from ALO Group’s operational hub in Panama.

The 2023 AWARD CATEGORIES

• The Sustainability Award
• Access Rental Company of the Year
• Contribution to Safe Working at Height
• Innovative Technology Prize
• Digital Development Award
• IPAF Training Centre of the Year
• IPAF Training Instructor of the Year
• Product of the Year – Mast Climbing Work Platforms & Hoists
• Product of the Year – Scissor Lifts & Vertical Masts
• Product of the Year – Self Propelled Booms & Atrium Lifts
• Product of the Year – Vehicle and Trailer Mounted
• IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award

VISIT HERE For more informarion about the award categories, IPAF Summit, sponsorship opportunities and how to book.