John Meale managing director of Thorworld Industries has formally handed over the Presidency of FEM, the European Materials Handling Federation, after the end of a productive two-year term.
The handover occurred at the 34th FEM Congress, held in Italy from 13th - 15th
September. The members unanimously elected Jan van der Velden Senior Manager
Systems at Dutch materials handling company Vanderlande Industries, and Vice President of FEM for the past two years as Meales successor for the 2012-2014 term.
Meale a passionate long-term advocate of FEMs work in providing a focal
point for the European materials handling industry was elected in 2010.
Reflecting on his mandate, Meale confirms that he arrived in the post with some
strong ideas.
"When I started two years ago, I set myself three goals for my Presidency:
enhancing FEM visibility, addressing the inefficiency of market surveillance
and laying down the foundations of a stronger FEM.
"I believe FEM has delivered on all three and I have no doubt Jan van der
Velden will not just maintain but further develop our associations performance
and value," Meale explains.
FEM has implemented a number of notable policies during the past two years that
have raised the profile of the European materials handling industry. Last
Autumn saw FEM heavily involved in the launch of a common industry platform for
Market Surveillance http://machinery-surveillance.eu that will serve as an
important tool for the EU Market Surveillance Authorities in carrying out their
job. This complemented a Conference organised by the European Commission in
Brussels, which was attended by over 200 participants from all sectors of
Governments and the Mechanical Handling Industry sector.
Before that, FEM published for the first time a selection of industry-wide
statistics, outlining the size and evolution of one of the largest sectors in
European Mechanical Engineering. The organisation also introduced an internal
Bimonthly Bulletin, providing a briefing on all the major developments and
activities in the Materials Handling Industry which have occurred over the two
previous months, which has been well received by members.
Meale confirms that he was also pleased to be re-elected as the President of
the FEM Product Group Elevating Equipment and that Thorworld Industries will
remain dedicated to FEM. "Were proud to be members of the organisation and we
will continue to work with our European colleagues to do the best for our
industry, in whatever way we can."