Jaap Vos is the new President of SEMA, the Storage Equipment Manufacturers' Association. He is the managing director of SSI Schaefer UK and brings with him significant experience of the materials handling industry.
Jaap has taken up the reins and is to lead SEMA through the next two years of office. His mission is to spearhead two key initiatives.
There is significant involvement ahead for SEMA in Europe. For over 40 years, the association has represented the storage equipment industry in the UK and abroad. Its policies and technical standards have enjoyed influence and won both UK and international respect.
He also sees the need to reinforce known effective training policies such as SEIRS, the Storage Equipment Installers' Registration Scheme. Since SEIRS was set up in the year 2000, over 3000 individual installers have been trained to SEIRS' high standards in storage equipment, industry best practice and safety skills.
Jaap Vos said:
"SEMA's influence in Europe will strengthen, particularly through the European Racking Federation (ERF) and FEM. Work has begun to realign our strategies to support UK manufacturers and to develop further standardisation to meet market and legal requirements. Our vision is to ensure that pan-European codes and standards created will support the UK industry in the drive for better, safer products, installation procedures, inspections and systems in use.
"We see SEMA as leading Europe through proven initiatives training schemes such as SEIRS and SARI (SEMA Approved Racking Inspector training). SEMA standards are implemented through the work of our member groups, SEMA Approved Distributor Companies (SDCs) and SEMA Approved Installation Companies (SAICs). The European need is already evident and, as an example, we have been invited by Turkey's national storage equipment association to come and share best practice.
"I believe that SEMA is the best placed, independent authoritative body to lead on industry training. Through our member organisations, we have successfully integrated all industry disciplines to deliver a cohesive service. Each member of our groups commits to the standards set and the SEMA code of practice. Our offer is unique, comprehensive and strictly non-commercial.
Visit SEMA at IMHX 2013 in Hall 20 on stand A23 for technical guidance, training support and further information. Each visitor representing an end-user company will receive a USB stick uploaded with the SEMA Code of Practice for the Use of Static Pallet Racking.
For more information visit www.sema.org.uk or book by telephone 0121 601 6350.