Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland and Trackunit win IAPA digital award at 2026 ceremony in Istanbul

Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland and telematics provider Trackunit have won the Digital Development Award at the 2026 International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs), announced at a gala ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The awards, organised by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and Rental & Access International, drew more than 140 entries across 13 categories covering product development, sustainability, safety, digital transformation, training and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

According to the IAPA Summit website, the dinner and awards took place on the evening of 15 October at the Istanbul Marriott Hotel Sisli, following the IPAF Summit held during the day.

Peter Douglas, CEO & Managing Director of IPAF, said: "The outstanding quality of this year's entries is a real reflection of the energy, innovation and commitment within our industry."

The digital award

IPAF said the Sunbelt and Trackunit programme aims to improve the management, support and servicing of aerial platforms using data and greater visibility. The judges highlighted its focus on improving decision-making through better use of data.

Before the ceremony, Trackunit said its shortlisted entry covered how its IrisX platform had helped Sunbelt Rentals connect more than 20,000 assets, delivering what the company described as safer operations and reduced downtime.

That work dates from November 2025, when Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland said it had increased connectivity to more than 20,000 assets as part of its five-year Sunbelt 4.0 growth strategy, and launched a customer portal built on Trackunit IrisX. At the time Matthew Ross, Director of Asset Connectivity at Sunbelt Rentals, said AI-driven insights would allow the business to predict maintenance needs and minimise downtime.

Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland was also a finalist for Access Rental Company of the Year, according to the IAPA Summit awards page, alongside Fatih Vinc, Mills and Rapid Access. That award went to Manlift Middle East.

Innovation, training and safety

JLG/Power Towers took the IAPA Innovative Technology Award for the LiftPod. The judges cited the combination of what they called a patented self-powered lifting mechanism and a foldable structure allowing fast deployment, compact storage and easy manoeuvrability. Power Towers' own product page describes the LiftPod as non-powered, with a lifting mechanism that does not require battery charging, and lists a maximum working height of up to 3.5m and a safe working load of 150kg.

The finalist field for that category, according to the IAPA Summit site, included Dingli's hybrid compact booms, Discover Battery's electrolyte system and a Mills lockout device.

Debbie Forbes of HSS Training was named IPAF Training Instructor of the Year. The judges said her dedication to championing high standards, nurturing diverse talent and driving a safer, more inclusive industry made her a standout candidate. The IAPA Summit site lists the other finalists as Nazim Taban of Rent Rise, Ricardo Magno Pereira Da Silva of Mills and Stefan Nowak of Mateco.

Nationwide Platforms, for its data centre partnership, and Aldercote, for Elevated Protection, were finalists in the Kevin O'Shea Contribution to Safe Working at Height Award, which went to Vietnam Rental for its Safety Ecosystem.

Product awards

Alimak's Scando 650a 40-46 S won Product of the Year for mast climbing work platforms and hoists, with judges pointing to a lightweight car, increased payload, a new C-door and lower energy consumption.

Genie's next-generation GS slab scissor lift took the scissor lifts and vertical masts category for a curved linkage scissor stack designed to eliminate rust and reduce wear.

Platform Basket's Spider 54T, with a 54m working height and up to 21m of outreach, won the self-propelled booms and atrium lifts category. Palfinger Platforms' PT 25 TJ, part of its new TEC range, won for vehicle and trailer mounted platforms, praised for high payload without stabilisers.

Other categories

Clem Jacob Hire won the Sustainability Award for reducing environmental impact across its rental and training operations. Standard Arabia Inspection was named IPAF Training Centre of the Year after 47% year-on-year growth in certified operators, and İstanbul Vinç won the EDI Award.

Cristian Nacht of Mills received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to powered access in Brazil over a career of more than four decades. The previous Lifetime Achievement Award listed in the IAPA hall of fame went to Dante Fracca in 2023.

The judging panel included IPAF president Kai Schliephake, Shaikha Ben Mahfoudh of Dayim Equipment Rental, Stephanie Erasmus of Kwick Access Rentals, Abdullah Tuncer, IPAF country manager for Türkiye, and a representative of Zoomlion.

What happens next

IPAF said atrium lifts will be removed from the self-propelled booms category in 2027 and the IAPA Innovative Technology Award will be discontinued, making JLG/Power Towers its final winner.

The 2027 IPAF Summit and IAPAs are scheduled for 12 and 13 May 2027 in Budapest, Hungary, according to the IAPA Summit website.