Celebrating its 20^th year at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on 18th & 19th November, LiftEx is a must visit for anybody involved with procuring or using services and lifting equipment to support manufacturing, engineering, construction, oil & gas, renewables, offshore, logistics, defence, utilities and entertainment operations around the world. It offers the perfect opportunity for finding answers to your lifting needs while also networking with the global Lifting Industry.

The annual flagship event of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), the leading global representative body for all those involved in the Lifting Industry worldwide, is supported by RiConnect, a provider of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS), as Headline Sponsor, along with sponsors Yoke and Hoist. LiftEx 2025 will build on the success of last year’s event, held in London, which was the largest and most successful ever, with a record number of end user visitors from multiple industries.

Safe practice is vital wherever lifting is performed. Those responsible for procuring lifting equipment and services in these operations will need to fully understand the risks, consequences and legal obligations, as well as filter good practice from the bad.

Visitors to LiftEx 2025 will find ways to improve safety and best practice with advice from industry experts throughout the exhibition, as well as the LEEA team, who will share their expertise and industry insights.

Thought leadership

To boost this important aspect of LiftEx, a new Thought Leadership Conference, which is also free to attend, will take place on Day 1 of the exhibition. Speakers include Tim Battersby, Technical Sales Manager at RiConnect, who 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. It will examine advancements in ROV-operated shackles and hooks, and how these are reshaping industry standards for remote handling, reducing risk, and improving operational uptime. Drawing from field experience, the session will offer practical insights into how new approaches to load management—from surface to seabed and back—are enhancing subsea project execution. Ideal for professionals involved in offshore operations, marine engineering and subsea logistics, this talk balances technical education with real-world application.

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

There will also be an End User Seminar taking place on Day 2 of LiftEx on Wednesday 19 November. 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.

Daniel Jennett, HSE Manager / HSE Lead at Sheffield Forgemasters, will present on ‘Beyond the Surface: Use of Emerging Technologies for Advanced Rope Inspection’ to explore how advanced inspection technologies are transforming the way ropes are assessed and maintained. This session will demonstrate how new tools and methods provide deeper, more accurate information, improving reliability and extending equipment life.

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.

Jordan Weston, Commercial Manager Services EMEIA 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. 

Exhibitors

In addition to the conference sessions, the show floor will be packed across both days with over 100 brands demonstrating innovations to improve productivity, efficiency and safety. These new products and services offer crucial solutions for achieving successful lifting operations.

A broad array of lifting equipment will be exhibited by from AP Lifting Gear Company, Atlas Winch & Hoist Services, Cromox, Delta Hoisting Equipment, George Taylor Lifting Gear, GGR Group, Hird Ltd, Lifting Material Supplies, Liftket UK, Miller Weblift, Miller Weblift, Modulift, Reid Lifting, RHC Lifting, SGM Magnetics, Tiger Lifting, TTC Lifting, Worldhoists. There will be materials handling equipment on display from Aconda Industrial Carriers, Probst and engineering & manufacturing services from Gemmak Engineering, Wirop Industrial Co and Worlifts.

Chains, ropes, slings, rigging and accessories will be shown by from Bekaert, CODIPRO, GIS – Lift Turn Move, Green Pin (Royal Van Beest), JDT, Marlow Ropes, pewag UK, Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd, RUD Chains, Sahm Splice, Talurit, William Hackett and YOKE Industrial Corp.

There will be height safety equipment and services from Globestock Safety, Safehold, SafetyLiftinGear, SpanSet and The Buddie System.

Visitors will find load monitoring equipment from Dynamic Load Monitoring (DLM), Load Monitoring Systems (LMS) and Red Rooster Lifting and IT solutions from CMCO (Columbus McKinnon), Core Inspection Software, coreRFID, IRUGASA (UK), Motion Software, Onix, Papertrail, RiConnect Inc and Tele Radio. There will also be Test machinery from Tensology.

Lifting and safety training can be found from Carl Stahl Evita, City of Bristol College, Elevation Training & Development and, of course, LEEA will have its usual prominent stand for visitors to meet and engage with the Association’s team for lifting advice, to learn about training and to hear about the many benefits of becoming a LEEA member.

With even more speakers and exhibitors to be confirmed, all of this means a visit to LiftEx 2025 in Liverpool offers the perfect chance to strengthen safety, compliance and efficiency in everyday lifting operations. And there will be many opportunities to network with peers and colleagues, not least on the evening Tuesday 18 November – Day One of LiftEx – when the annual LEEA Awards recognise and celebrate excellence within the global lifting industry and will be presented at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool. Register now at liftex25.eventreference.com.