The future of lifting takes centre stage at LiftEx 2025
It’s time again to look forward to LiftEx 2025. LEEA’s annual flagship event takes place at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on 18th & 19th November. You can register now for your free ticket at liftex25.eventreference.com. It is where the future of lifting takes centre stage, with LEEA member companies demonstrating outstanding products and services on the exhibition floor to showcase the pinnacle of lifting equipment, solutions and practice.
From ports and offshore energy to construction, logistics and manufacturing, LiftEx is where safety, innovation and opportunity meet. Embodying the theme of connection – linking people, data and safety in the next generation of lifting solutions – the event is supported by RiConnect, a provider of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS), as Headline Sponsor, along with sponsors Yoke and Hoist.
The show floor will be packed across both days with over 100 brands showcasing lifting, rigging, and height-safety solutions. This will provide a chance to see new products first-hand, talk to the experts behind them and find smarter, safer ways to work. A broad array of lifting and materials handling equipment will be on display as well as a variety of chains, ropes, slings and rigging along with accessories. There will be engineering and manufacturing services as well as height safety equipment and services. Visitors will find load monitoring equipment, IT solutions and test machinery. They can also find out more about lifting and safety training.
The Lifting Industry is constantly evolving with the onset of new materials, innovative ideas, improvements to equipment, better ways of doing things and the adoption of modern technologies. There is also a constant need to improve safety, and to maintain compliance to developing and new standards and regulations. What better way to keep up to date with best practice than visiting LiftEx? It is the perfect opportunity for attendees to gain vital lifting related knowledge and insights through a comprehensive session of free to attend thought leadership seminars and end user presentations.
Thought leadership
The Thought Leadership Conference at LiftEx will take place on Day 1 of the exhibition. A line-up of highly informative presentations commences with LEEA promoting enhanced standards and sustainable development in a seminar titled: ‘Future-Proofing the Lifting Industry: Perspectives and Predictions’. This will look at the forces shaping the Lifting Industry and explore emerging trends, technological innovations as well as giving strategic insights that will define the sector’s future. Attendees will gain practical guidance to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
Wim Fabricius, President & Managing Director, EMEA of Kito Crosby, will present ‘You are only as strong as your team – Building the future through talent’. It’s theme is the Lifting Industry stands at a crossroads. Companies are grappling with the dual challenge of attracting and retaining new talent while navigating rapid shifts in technology and business models. Vertical integration, advanced manufacturing (Manufacturing 2.0), and digitalisation are reshaping how we operate, while safety, R&D and continuous training remain non-negotiable foundations. The future will belong to the organisations that can unite strong teams with innovation, developing the skills and culture needed to create not just a more competitive industry - but a safer one.
Tim Battersby, Technical Sales Manager at RiConnect, will give an ‘Introduction to the Digital Product Passport’. Attendees will become familiar with the objectives of the Digital Product Passport, understand what we know so far on the DPP and learn what we can do now to prepare for future digitalisation requirements.
Anton van der Zalm, Vice President Corporate Research & Development at Van Beest BV, will give a presentation titled: ‘From Surface to Seabed and Back: Innovations in Load Release and Retrieval’. As subsea operations become more complex and efficiency-driven, the technology behind load release and retrieval continues to evolve. This session explores the latest innovations in subsea installation equipment, with a focus on smarter, safer techniques for deploying and recovering loads from the seabed.
Adeoluwa Bamgbade, Temporary Works Coordinator at SCS Railways, will examine ‘Tunnel Boring Machine Shield Extraction on HS2 London Tunnels’. This session will share how SCS engineered bespoke lifting solutions, applied advanced planning tools, and ensured safety throughout complex operations. Delegates will learn practical approaches to heavy lift design, risk management and innovative techniques that can be applied to similarly demanding projects.
Ollie Brown, Economist at GlobalData Plc, will discuss ‘Vertical Construction amid Evolving International Trade’. This session will cover market trends, new project developments and maritime trade dynamics and implications.
End User Seminars
On Day 2 of LiftEx, Wednesday 19 November, there will be an End User Seminar. The programme features Andy Cartwright, Technical Manager at Mentor, looking at ‘Slinging vs Lashing: The Critical Difference’. Learn why choosing the correct method for load securement is essential for safety and compliance. This session will highlight the practical and regulatory differences between slinging and lashing, helping end users avoid common pitfalls and reduce risk on site.
Julian Camacho-Cornejo, Lead Engineer – Product Design & Engineering at Sheffield Forgemasters, will discuss ‘Raising the bar: Managing lifting activities at Sheffield Forgemasters’.
Kurt Thomsen, Crane and Lifting Expert from RelyOn, will discuss the ‘Advancement of Training and Skills in the Lifting Industry’ for attendees to discover how innovative training programmes and practical expertise are shaping the future of the lifting industry. This session will explore new approaches to workforce development, helping end users build safer, more capable teams equipped to meet today’s operational challenges.
Peter Purvis, Quality & Technical Lead, Advanced Services at Bekaert, will deliver a presentation on ‘Beyond the Surface: Use of Emerging Technologies for Advanced Rope Inspection’ Join the follow-up session on rope inspection to gain further insights into emerging technologies and their real-world applications. This discussion will offer additional perspectives to strengthen inspection practices and improve operational safety.
