APEX 2005 – The International Access Platform Exhibition & Conference in MECC Maastricht, The Netherlands

• The fifth APEX aerial platform exhibition and conference, taking place in Maastricht, The Netherlands on 22-24 September 2005, is already almost fully booked with over 65 companies confirmed, including 12 access suppliers new to the event.

• A free conference held during the first day of the show will focus on the new European Temporary Working at Height Directive, providing equipment end-users and employers with detailed guidance on how to meet their health and safety obligations for staff working at height.

This year's APEX, which takes place three years after the previous event in 2002, is proving to be perfect timing for the European access industry, with sales of platforms to rental companies and end-users in the region increasing after several years of sluggish activity.

The optimism is backed up by the recent Confidence Survey carried out by Access International magazine, the official sponsoring publication of APEX. The survey found that:

• 49% of all companies contacted planned to expand their aerial platform fleets this year (the same figure in 2004 was 27%). A further 29% will replace existing equipment.

• 65% of access rental companies will expand their fleets in 2005, a further 15% will update their fleets (the equivalent figures in 2004 were 41% and 31%, respectively).

APEX will provide access equipment buyers – both rental companies and end users – with the perfect opportunity to view the latest product launches from all the world's major access equipment suppliers.

Companies booked for the event include major players such as JLG Industries, Skyjack, Pinguely-Haulotte, Genie Industries, Bronto, Manitou, Iteco, Anton Ruthmann, Upright, Holland Lift, and Wumag. These and the other exhibitors will present the entire range of available access equipment, including self-propelled scissor lifts, booms, push-around vertical mast machines, mast climbers, suspended platforms, trailer mounted platforms and vehicle mounted units.

New exhibitors this year include Italian companies Lionlift and Rovers, Lehmann of Germany, French scaffolding and access specialist Comabi, and UK company SEV.

In addition, specialist suppliers to the access industry for items such as batteries, software, control systems, parts and used equipment will also be exhibiting.

The Conference

The free APEX conference, meanwhile - which will take place on Thursday 22 September, the first day of the show - focuses on the European Temporary Work at Height Directive. This Directive, enacted in European Union countries on 19 July last year – and with an optional two year transitional period - requires employers and self-employed workers to carry out a risk assessment before undertaking work at height and to use appropriate access equipment.

Speakers will describe in detail the requirements of the directive and how companies can ensure that they comply with the regulations. Topics to be covered include:

• How to work safely at height.

• Guide to the access equipment available and costs.

• Case studies showing how end-users have adopted access equipment and increased safety and improved productivity.

• The importance of operator training, and where to get it.

• Advice on how to minimise insurance premiums.

The conference will also include topics addressing the needs of access rental companies who represent the single largest buying group in the industry. Topics will include:

• Safe renting: learning from the US.

• Growing an access business profitably.

APEX takes place alongside the RentEX exhibition and conference, which is an event targeted at equipment rental companies. Visitors to APEX will have access to the RentEX exhibition and conference with no additional entrance fee.

The APEX exhibition - which is again being organised by IPI, with the support of industry magazine Access International and trade body International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) - was first held in 1996 and will be taking place this year for the fifth time.