Speakers announced for 2014 World Crane and Transport Summit

The first three speakers for the 2014 World Crane and Transport Summit in the USA have been announced. International Cranes and Specialized Transport and KHL Group’s KHL Events division are organising the two-day conference and networking event in Miami, Florida, on 12 and 13 November. Moving to the USA for the first time, it will be the fourth time that the two day conference has been held. WCTS exists to offer thought-provoking presentations to help generate debate on key issues facing the lifting and project transport industry worldwide.

A key theme at the WCTS is the importance of global partnerships to achieve common requirements in lifting and transport. This includes work on harmonising standards worldwide and helping foster a positive approach to developing transferable world class standards in crane operations.

The first speaker announced for WCTS 2014 is Scott Hazelton, director, IHS Global Insight Construction and Manufacturing Industries Practice. Hazelton developed and is responsible for the quarterly Global Construction Outlook as well as the U.S. Construction Quarterly Briefing and the U.S. Construction: State and Metropolitan Focus forecasts and commentary. He has also developed specific forecasting models for US renovation and infrastructure markets.

In addition to his core forecasting responsibilities, Hazelton consults with clients on market sizing, market potential and market growth in key construction and manufacturing related industries. These include contracting, building materials, heavy equipment, and rental services.

Hazelton is a regular contributor to International Construction and many other titles in the sector. He provides outlooks to the executive leadership at construction and manufacturing clients and has presented to the Engineering & Construction Industry Global Leadership of the World Economic Forum.

Hazelton joined Global Insight in 1984 as a research economist specializing in the housing sector and has served in a number of positions, including the U.S. Economic Service. He received his B.A. from Bates College and is a member of the Construction Marketing Research Council.

IC is pleased to announce that David Rodrigues, will also be a speaker at WCTS 2014. Rodrigues is chief executive officer at leading crane rental and specialized transport company Makro Enghenaria in Brazil. He has been with the company since 1996.

Makro has a strong presence in many sectors, from mining, petrochemicals and energy to steel, cement and port operations. The company says it has one of the youngest fleets in the country, has attained international quality standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and is implementing OHSAS 18001. Based in Fortaleza (Ceará), the company operates throughout Brazil.

Completing this first round of speaker announcements is Ted Redmond, president & CEO at Canadian crane rental group NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul Services. Redmond has 30 years of management experience in Canada and the USA with leading international companies, including Rockwell International, The Boston Consulting Group, and McCoy Corporation. It includes more than 15 years of experience in executive roles in both publicly traded and private equity-owned businesses offering services to the crane and heavy haul, oil sands, conventional oil and gas, refining and petrochemical, and electric utilities industries. Ted is a member of the Crane Governance Committee of the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association and a Board Member for both the Crane Rental Association of Canada and the Alberta Council of Turnaround Industry Maintenance Stakeholders. He graduated with a B.S. in engineering from the University of Alberta, a M.S. in engineering from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

This unique event brings together key stakeholders in the global lifting and heavy transport industry. Previous World Crane and Transport Summits have attracted more than 260 attendees, including leading crane and transport professionals, from around the world. The summit is fully supported by top crane associations SC&RA, ESTA, Sindipesa and CICA together with many of their members.

The crane, rigging and specialized transportation sector in North America experienced a solid recovery in 2013 and is expecting even better performance in 2014. The energy sector – including power generation, oil and gas exploration, refinery expansion, wind power transmission infrastructure and wind farm maintenance – has been a strong source of business. Prospects for growth remain strong, particularly in western Canada, Mexico and throughout the USA. Public infrastructure and utility work on such projects as metropolitan transit systems, highways and bridges, dams, airports, sea ports and urban renewal projects have also provided many large and long-term projects.

Sharing and comparing experience among leading industry peers in the unique environment created at this event can bring real reward in operating a safer and more efficient business. Among others in the industry, equipment end users, whether from a rental company, construction contractor or supplier of cranes and transport services, should have one or more of these events at the top of their agenda for 2014.

For more details and news updates see: www.khl.com/events