Serious Labs Wins International Award for MEWP Virtual Reality Simulator

Serious Labs’ Mobile Elevated Work Platform simulator for operator training received the International Award for Powered Access prize in the category of Innovative Technology at the International Powered Access Federation Summit in London.

Michael Roth

April 29, 2017

Wade Carson left and Jim Colvin right accept the award from Brad Boehler President of Skyjack At right is BBC sports broadcaster John Inverdale — Wade Carson (left) and Jim Colvin (right) accept the award from Brad Boehler, President of Skyjack. At right is BBC sports broadcaster John Inverdale.

"This virtual reality simulator brings to the access industry technology that has previously only been available in the military and aerospace industries,” said the judges. “It offers a fantastic learning experience for operators."

Serious Labs has been developing training simulators for 12 years. The programs can perform and repeat hazardous tasks to perfect their skills. Serious Labs’ Aerial Work Platform – Virtual Reality Simulator also worked with United Rentals’ United Academy to develop a virtual reality program to train people on the safe use of aerial equipment and won the Silver Award on RER’s Innovative Product Award.

“It’s a great day for Edmonton’s growing technology industry, and a fantastic day for us at Serious Labs,” said CEO Jim Colvin. “This is a validation for our decision to go hard into virtual reality to deliver incredible training simulators for our industrial clients.”

Serious Labs is an advanced technology studio based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

About the Author

Michael Roth

Editor

Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.