The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) successfully concluded the IPAF - 2024 Asia Summit at Nanjing on August 1-2. This prestigious event not only gathered industry elites from mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan but also attracted numerous renowned enterprises to jointly explore the future trends and safe development of the powered access platform industry.
Opening Ceremony: A Gathering of Luminaries
The event kicked off with an inspiring opening speech delivered by Ms. Hu Yuhong, Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Emergency Management. Following that, Peter Douglas, CEO of IPAF, delivered a warm welcome address, setting a solid tone for the smooth progress of the summit.
Focusing on Safety, Discussing Development
During the conference, Mr. Mo Yu, IPAF China Manager, thoroughly analyzed the IPAF 2024 Annual Safety Incident Report and introduced the "Crush Can Kill" safety campaign, emphasizing the significance of accident reports in enhancing workplace safety. Meanwhile, Ms. Romina Vanzi, IPAF's Regional Development and MCWPS Lead, advocated for safety collaboration and the establishment of a China Regional Council, further consolidating the safety consensus within the industry.
Highlight-packed Sessions for In-depth Exchanges
Stefano Scapin, Chief Business Development Officer of COBO Asia Pacific, shared insights on how safety features can translate into competitive advantages. Martin Wraith, IPAF Rental+ Program Manager, provided valuable suggestions for optimizing rental business operations. After lunch, Brian Parker, IPAF Safety & Technical Director, delved into the new EU Machinery Regulation affecting MEWP manufacturers, while Roseline Zhang from Ducker Carlisle presented a comprehensive comparison of the Chinese and overseas MEWP rental markets based on the annual rental market report, offering rich market insights to participants.
Particularly noteworthy was the panel discussion on "Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Chinese Access Platform Rental Industry," which invited several industry leaders to engage in heated debates around hot topics such as safety guarantees, the trend of electrification, and new equipment policies. The session witnessed frequent interactions and a lively atmosphere.
Practical Training and Skill Enhancement
On the second day, despite a tight schedule, the "Equipment Practical Inspection" and "Man-up Trapped" seminars attracted nearly 80 enthusiastic participants. Under the guidance of IPAF trainers, participants conducted detailed walkaround inspections of equipment and learned proper harness wearing methods for aerial work from professional instructors from 3M. The subsequent "Man-up Trapped" seminar, through real-case sharing and analysis, provided participants with invaluable experience in responding to emergencies.
Looking Ahead, Moving Forward Together
With the announcement that the IPAF 2025 Asia Summit will be held in Seoul, Korea, the IPAF 2024 Asia Summit came to a successful conclusion. The active participation of companies such as Shanghai Yacontee demonstrated their profound expertise and forward-looking vision in the powered access platform industry, significantly contributing to the success of the summit.
"We sincerely thank all attendees, speakers, and sponsors for their support and contributions," said Mr. Mo Yu, IPAF China Regional Manager. "It is with your participation that this summit has achieved remarkable success. In the future, IPAF will continue to collaborate with industry partners to jointly promote the safe development and innovative progress of the powered access platform industry."
