This will be the first time in the event’s history that it will take place in Scotland. The event will comprise of the exhibition, industry conference and Innovation Fast Pitch.

Over 100 exhibitors will demo their latest lifting products and services, and 1,500 dedicated industry professionals and end users from a wide range of vertical markets are expected to attend, including oil & gas, energy, road & maritime transport, construction, utilities and manufacturing.

LiftEx is organized by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), the representative body for those involved in the lifting industry.

The association has played a key role in this specialised field for over seventy years, from training and standards setting through to health and safety, the provision of technical and legal advice, and the development of examination and licensing systems.

Conference

The 2nd LiftEx industry conference will take place on Wednesday 23rd November 2016, the first day of the show.

Oliver Auston, managing director and owner of Checkmate Lifting & Safety will make the introduction to the conference, followed by Ian Simpson who will make a presentation on crane accidents.

Simpson, HM principal specialist inspector of Health & Safety, will discuss about common accidents with cranes as well as issues with buying used cranes and plant at auctions. His presentation will include a number of accident case studies.

Doug Stitt, president & CEO of The Caldwell Group and J.C Renfroe, will the take the stage to talk about the US Navy drone lift application.

The attendees will then hear about ways to eliminate dropped objects at the worksite from Allen Smith, facilitator and educator at DROPS Global.

Another interesting presentation will be delivered by nuclear safety inspector at Office for Nuclear Regulation Dai Davies. Davies will talk about regulation of lifting operations on nuclear facilities, ONR assessment standards and guidance applied by ONR specialist inspectors. He will also discuss about good practice in nuclear lifting equipment design.

What makes a lifting installation in a theatre unique? This is one of the questions Bart J.W. Dieben, director at Dieben, will answer during his time on the podium.

Kevan Stokes, technical director at Augmentias Maritime & Offshore Engineering, will follow to tell the audience Issues addressed for the successful raising of a 5,200t semisubmersible vessel using cofferdams.

After these presentations, there will be a panel discussion and a Q&A session chaired by Sarah Spivey, managing director at Modulift.

innovation fast pitch

The Innovation Fast Pitch will provide an opportunity for companies to pitch their new product or innovation to an audience in an open theatre during a 10-minute pitch. The stage will be located in a prime position in the centre of the show floor, and visitors will be able to vote for their favourite during the 2 days. The winner will receive the LEEA Best Innovation Award 2016. Last year the winner of the award was Loughborough University for the aerodynamic lifting aid.

Its research found a way to reduce drag and improve stability of loads, allowing continued operations in adverse conditions. This has the potential to minimise disruption to lifting plans in poor weather, saving time and money.