All our members are established specialists within their fields, and have the experience and commercial standing to provide quality, cost-effective solutions for all aspects of mechanisation for bulk materials handling and storage, conveyors, dust collection and control, instrumentation, mixers, big bag handling, sampling systems, sieves, valves and weighing systems and equipment.
The Solids Handling & Processing Association is now
well into its fifth decade of continuous progress. From its initial
start in 1981, with only seven
member companies, it has
become the premier trade
association for the solids and bulk handling industry.
From its early beginnings, looking to represent
member companies in trade shows, SHAPA
has developed into a portal for technical information, training,
governmental interaction, health and safety initiatives, networking
forums and of course the hosting of the Annual Solids Handling Awards.
Although the members change due
to retirements, acquisitions, and mergers - new members continue to
join, keeping the membership well above one hundred members.
Back in April 2014
when I became the General Secretary of SHAPA, taking over from John
Whitehead who had held the role
for a decade before me, it was very daunting but also an honour to be
allowed to be the latest custodian. Throughout my time in office we have
embraced new technology within the SHAPA membership and come to terms
with the ever changing way in which to market ourselves as the digital
revolution has taken hold. We also started the Solids Handling Awards
with an
initial five awards in 2015 This
has grown to nine award categories this year, as well as recognising
those individuals who have made a major contribution to the Industry.
As we enter April 2024 it’s
time to hand over the
custodianship of SHAPA to Louise Smallwood as General Secretary of the
Association so that they can steer the association and its members into
the future.
Louise is already well known to many of the
association’s members having been a stalwart of the SHAPA marketing
committee for the last eight years in which time she has been
influential not only marketing the association but in assisting fellow
members with their own marketing challenges.
As I step back from the role of General Secretary
it has been a real pleasure assisting you the members, and also the
wider solids handling
community in moving the industry forward over the last ten years.
Together, SHAPA and its members have ensured that collectively we meet
the needs of the industry at large. The Association moves forward in
safe hands and I look forward to the continued developments in the field
of Solids and Bulk Handling.
Ian Birkinshaw
Louise and Ian, planning the handover at RHS Bridgewater May 2024
Visit www.shapa.co.uk or email info@shapa.co.uk to discover more benefits of membership or to find technical partners for your next project.
