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Our website is a hugely popular digital scaffolding resource. Launched back in 2009, ScaffMag has grown in popularity to become the industry’s leading source for the latest independent trade news, current affairs, scaffolding jobs and profiling the very best from our sector.
ScaffMag gives businesses and brands an unrivalled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24 hours a day 7 days a week to a highly targeted audience. Our readership includes main and sub-contractors, manufacturers, consultants, scaffolders and many others. We offer print and digital advertising opportunities across desktop, mobile and tablet channels.
During 2023 we welcomed over 250,000 individual users to the site, generating over 760,000 pageviews. We remain amongst our industry the most followed and liked company on social media with more than 132,000 followers on Facebook alone.
– Daniel Norton, Editor of ScaffMag
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We provide businesses and brands an unrivalled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24 hours a day 7 days a week to a highly targeted audience.
For a full list of website advertising opportunities with ScaffMag please contact us and download our 2024 Media Pack.
Our Daily Download and Weekly Rundown email newsletter is essential reading for thousands of scaffolding professionals. They are sent to more than 7,200 people providing a unique reach into companies across the country and the world. The newsletter enjoys an above-average open rate for the construction sector of 38% and our list is constantly updated to only include regular readers. Our subscriber database can be made available to selected clients for direct marketing in the form of an Email Blast.
EMAIL SPONSORSHIP ScaffMag offers email sponsorship in our daily and weekly round-up emails in the form of a banner advertisement contained within the newsletter Email Banner: £300.00pcm
EMAIL BLAST ScaffMag give’s businesses and industry service providers the ability to send out their very own promotional email co-branded with ScaffMag to our database of subscribers. Email Blast: £400.00 per campaign
Interested in learning more about advertising with us? Drop us a line on 01472 476024 or email [email protected]
As a natural progression for both our loyal readership and our scaffold sector advertising customers, we have launched the ScaffMag magazine – a fresh, slick, modern, vibrant and engaging product to enjoy and to back up our ScaffMag.com community and social media following, which advertisers in the magazine can tap their brand into. Created with both the scaffolder and contractor in mind, The ScaffMag Magazine gives businesses and brands an unrivalled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24:7:365 to a large, rapidly expanding and highly-targeted audience. It’s a unique proposition in digital and print.
“The new issue of Scaffmag is packed with great articles and opinions. We’re very lucky in our industry to have such a great support and loudspeaker for everything we do! Thanks as always to Daniel Norton for putting such great content together.” – Des Moore
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To find out more about advertising in our quarterly magazine please view and download our 2021 Media Pack.
Or Call: 01472 476024 Email: [email protected]
ScaffMag continues to dominate the social media networks within our industry with the most liked/followed Facebook page in the sector. At the time of writing this, ScaffMag’s official page has 135,000+ followers and 81,000+ likes.
For an up to date view of our social media stats see the boxes below.
The London ambulance service said: “An investigation has been launched after two men were injured after scaffolding attached to Hammersmith town hall collapsed late on Wednesday afternoon.
“Officers from the Metropolitan police attended along with firefighters.”
Tube-Lock® tubes are regular 48,3mm scaffolding tubes, fitted with two cast iron Tube-Lock pieces. Because of the Tube-Lock ends, tubes can be connected with each other by a twisting motion, visibly locking them in place. No tools nor additional parts are required to make or secure the connection.
This provides many advantages.
Because the two tubes can be joined by a twisting motion, it is a fast and easy way to connect tubes together. This leads to faster erection and dismantling times for the entire scaffold.
Furthermore, no additional parts nor tools are needed. No longer needing sleeve couplers and joint pins means that there are no spare parts that need to be transported. Additionally, you don’t have to invest in sleeve couplers and joint pins as you no longer need them.
This also eliminates the risk of sleeve couplers breaking, getting lost or getting stolen. And you don’t have to service the sleeve couplers anymore. Tube-Lock connections are completely maintenance-free.
Another logistical advantage is that Tube-Lock comes in standard lengths from 1 meter or 4ft up to 4 meters or 13ft. Because of this flexibility, it prevents the necessity of cutting the tubes to length.
The maximum length of 4 meters means the maximum weight of a Tube-Lock tube is 16 kg. This leads to less strain on scaffolders, which is essential because of the strict Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Additionally, there is no need to stagger joints, Tube-Lock is as strong as a continuous tube. The connection may even be submitted to pull force. Using Tube-Lock tubes leads to a smooth tube connection over the full length of the tube. This makes it possible to use couplers anywhere on the tube. Even on the Tube-Lock connection.
In their innovative production facility, they can turn your (used) scaffolding tube to Tube-Lock tubes! This means you can update your own material without enormous investments. Even the repair of existing Tube-Lock stock is possible. And they now offer a special discount on the conversion of your scaffolding tube!
Have a look at www.thielscaffolding.com for more information, or contact [email protected] to hear more about all possibilities!
Avontus has unveiled a new artificial intelligence platform designed to connect scaffold design, inventory, project management and wider business systems through a single AI assistant.
Demonstrated during the SAIA Annual Convention and Exposition in Nashville, the Avontus AI Platform is intended to allow users to ask questions across several systems without repeatedly switching between separate applications.
The platform is being developed to connect Avontus products including Quantify, Designer, Viewer and ScaffoldIQ with customers’ existing CRM, accounting, SharePoint and company knowledge systems.
Rather than creating its own closed chatbot, Avontus is using technology known as Model Context Protocol, or MCP, which allows an AI assistant to securely access approved information held within different software platforms.
The approach is designed to work with established enterprise AI tools, while allowing customers to retain control over their data, permissions and existing business systems.
A worked example presented by Avontus showed how a company owner could ask which scaffold project generated the highest gross profit during the previous quarter.
The assistant would then review information from the company’s CRM, scaffold drawings, inventory records, accounting system and ScaffoldIQ before preparing a management summary.
In the example, the AI compared what had been estimated, shipped and invoiced, while also checking drawing scope, project modifications and scaffold inspection records.
The final response was held for approval rather than being sent automatically.
This approval-based approach is central to the platform. Avontus says the assistant will eventually be able to prepare documents, reservations, emails and other actions, but a person must review and approve them before anything is completed.
During a demonstration seen by Scaffmag, Avontus showed how the technology could analyse a scaffold model, calculate areas and quantities, produce a bill of materials and group components according to their position within the structure.
The AI was then used to create a truck-loading plan based on vehicle weight limits and the order in which materials would be needed on site.
In one example involving a power station boiler scaffold, components required for the lower sections were placed on the first trucks, allowing erection teams to begin work in the correct sequence when the equipment arrived.
The loading plan could also be adjusted where trucks had different carrying capacities.
The demonstration showed how information already contained within a scaffold drawing could be used to support transport, logistics and erection planning, rather than remaining confined to the design department.
Avontus also demonstrated how its data could be combined with customers’ existing estimating spreadsheets, allowing companies to retain their own labour rates, productivity assumptions and commercial processes.
Avontus said its approach is intended to complement the systems scaffolding businesses already use, rather than forcing them to move all their information into a new standalone platform.
Quantify would continue to manage areas such as inventory, rentals, shipping and billing, while Designer and Viewer would provide access to drawings, models and material quantities.
ScaffoldIQ could supply information relating to requests, handovers, inspections and field operations, with external accounting and CRM platforms providing financial and customer data.
The AI assistant could then bring information from these approved sources together when asked a question or given a task.
Avontus believes this open approach will reduce the disruption normally associated with introducing a completely new business platform.
It would also allow customers to continue using established accounting systems, estimating spreadsheets and internal company processes rather than being forced into a standardised workflow.
Potential users include estimators, engineers, yard teams, project managers, safety staff, finance departments and senior management.
Example tasks could include checking loading assumptions before a drawing is approved, comparing drawing revisions, identifying equipment available for upcoming reservations and matching invoices against the materials shipped to site.
Security is being positioned as a key part of the platform. Avontus says customer files would remain within the customer’s existing systems, with each employee only able to access information they already have permission to view.
The platform is intended to work with established company login and single sign-on controls, meaning access could be removed immediately when an employee leaves or changes role.
Every read and proposed action would also be recorded, providing an audit trail showing what information had been accessed and what the assistant had attempted to do.
Unauthorised requests would be refused, while IT departments would retain the ability to remove access for an individual, a group or the entire organisation.
Avontus has also emphasised that nothing would be sent, posted, reserved or invoiced without approval from a person.
The underlying AI connectors demonstrated to Scaffmag are operational and can currently be installed through a controlled process. Avontus said it was preparing to include the functionality within its wider software installers, making it easier for customers to deploy.
However, the complete platform presented by the company remains under development. Some functions can currently read and analyse information and prepare outputs, but certain direct actions are not yet available.
During the demonstration, for example, the AI could prepare the information needed for a Quantify reservation, but it could not yet create the reservation automatically.
Pricing, detailed data-handling terms and the full commercial rollout have also yet to be confirmed.
Avontus describes the wider platform as a roadmap vision being developed with selected design partners.
Avontus was not the only software company using the Nashville convention to showcase new artificial intelligence capabilities.
ScaffPlan also unveiled an AI-driven workflow designed to connect scaffold design, estimating and wider project processes.
While the two approaches differ, both developments point to a growing move towards AI tools that can draw information from across a scaffolding business rather than operating solely as standalone design software.
The launches suggest software developers increasingly see AI not simply as a way to answer questions, but as a tool capable of connecting drawings, equipment, project records and commercial data.
Although the technology remains at an early stage, the Avontus demonstration offered a practical view of how scaffold-specific business data could be brought together to support planning, logistics and management decisions across an organisation.
The 2026 SAIA Annual Convention & Exposition is underway in Nashville with the largest attendance in the event’s history.
More than 750 people have registered for this year’s convention at the JW Marriott Nashville, according to the Scaffold & Access Industry Association.
The event has brought together scaffold contractors, manufacturers, engineers, safety professionals, training providers and labour representatives from across North America and overseas.
Training courses and committee meetings began before the main convention programme, which opened on Tuesday, 28 July.
Delegates are now attending technical sessions, business discussions and networking events covering safety, training, engineering, workforce development and the pressures facing scaffold and access contractors.
The sold-out exhibition hall is hosting live equipment demonstrations and new product launches from suppliers across the industry.
Several exhibitors are also using the convention to give delegates a first look at products and services before their wider release.
ScaffPlan is among the companies launching new technology in Nashville, unveiling its AI workflow to the industry for the first time.
The software has been developed to connect more of the scaffold planning and project process within one system, with further demonstrations taking place during the convention.
Other exhibitors are presenting new scaffold systems, access equipment, safety products and digital tools throughout the event.
The International Access and Scaffolding Association is also meeting during the convention, adding to the international attendance in Nashville.
Evening receptions and the President’s Gala will run alongside the conference and exhibition programme, giving delegates further opportunities to meet suppliers, contractors and industry representatives.
The record turnout follows continued growth in attendance at SAIA events and strong demand for exhibition space at this year’s convention.
Scaffmag is reporting from Nashville throughout the week, with interviews, company news and product coverage from the exhibition floor.
Around 700 tonnes of AT-PAC Ringlock scaffolding has been installed to support a major temporary weather protection system over the redevelopment of Huddinge Kommunhus in Sweden.
AT-PAC worked with scaffolding contractor Sydställningar and temporary roofing specialist Scaffco on the project, which required construction work to continue through heavy snow, wind and rain.
Two temporary roofs have been installed side by side. A Mammut roof covers the town hall, while a Scaffix system protects the neighbouring library.
The Mammut structure spans approximately 4,500m² and has been designed for a snow load of 0.60kN/m². Across the full roof area, that equates to a total load of more than 275,000kg.
AT-PAC compared the figure to the weight of around 45 fully grown mammoths.
The Ringlock scaffold forms the main support structure beneath the roof. A purpose-developed beam connection secures the scaffold to the building at a height of 12 metres, with the structure continuing another 10 metres above that point.
The arrangement distributes loads across the scaffold while providing a stable base for the temporary roof.
The Mammut system has also been installed on rails, allowing sections of the roof to be opened or closed in around 5 to 10 minutes. This gives the construction team access for lifting operations and material deliveries without leaving the building exposed for long periods.
Tobias Bækhøj, partner and head of business development at Scaffco A/S, said the use of 2 roofing systems allowed the project team to meet different span and loading requirements across the town hall and library.
“AT-PAC’s Ringlock system formed the backbone of the project,” he said.
“By combining our Scaffix and Mammut roof solutions, we were able to meet the varying span and load requirements of the 2 structures.”
Dennis Ragnar, country manager for AT-PAC Sweden, said cooperation between the 3 companies had been central to delivering the access and weather protection package.
“By combining the systems, technical knowledge and close cooperation with Sydställningar and Scaffco, we supported a safe and efficient construction process,” he said.
Advanced NI Scaffolding has announced its first charity golf day, bringing together customers, suppliers and industry partners to raise money for three charities supporting construction workers, children with cancer and people recovering from addiction.
The inaugural event will take place at Carrickfergus Golf Club on Friday 4 September and is intended to become an annual fixture in the company’s calendar.
Former two-weight world boxing champion Carl Frampton MBE has agreed to become the event’s official charity ambassador. The company said his involvement will help raise awareness of the fundraising effort and encourage wider support from the Northern Ireland business community.
Funds raised during the event will be shared between the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity and Teen Challenge Northern Ireland.
Robert Andrews, director of Advanced NI Scaffolding, said the company wanted to create an event that would make a lasting difference beyond the construction industry.
“As a family business, we’ve always believed that success should be measured not only by what we achieve as a company, but also by the difference we can make in our communities,” he said.
“The Lighthouse Charity plays a vital role in supporting those working within our industry, the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity provides incredible care and support for families facing unimaginable challenges, and Teen Challenge changes lives every day by helping people rebuild their futures.
“Having Carl Frampton join us as our charity ambassador is a huge honour. Carl represents resilience, determination and community spirit, values that fit perfectly with what this event is about.”
The day will follow a four-ball team format and includes fundraising activities throughout the course. Organisers have also arranged two hole-in-one competitions, with a £100,000 cash prize on the 12th hole and a car worth £45,000 available on the 14th.
Equipment hire company Balloo Hire has signed up as title sponsor.
Lorraine Boal of Balloo Hire said: “We’re delighted to partner with Advanced NI Scaffolding as title sponsor for their first-ever Charity Golf Day. Supporting community-focused initiatives is something that aligns closely with our values at Balloo Hire, and we’re proud to play a part in launching what promises to be a fantastic event.”
Advanced NI Scaffolding said businesses have already committed to platinum, gold and silver sponsorship packages, alongside hole sponsorships and team entries. The company is continuing to invite organisations to support the event through sponsorship, donations or by entering a team.
Founded in 2011, the family-run contractor works across Northern Ireland and the UK and says the charity golf day reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting local communities alongside its commercial work.
The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) has launched the first version of its Australian Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding, providing the industry with a single reference intended to support safer and more consistent working practices across the country.
The 140-page document has been developed for scaffold contractors, principal contractors, clients, designers, engineers, supervisors, safety professionals, regulators and scaffold users.
It covers the full lifecycle of a scaffold, from initial planning and risk assessment through to design, erection, inspection, use, alteration and dismantling.
SAA said the guidance had been produced to complement Australia’s workplace health and safety legislation, applicable codes of practice, Australian Standards and manufacturers’ instructions, rather than replace them.
The association also makes clear that the document is an industry resource and not a prescriptive legal standard. Users remain responsible for complying with the legislation and regulatory requirements that apply in their own state or territory.
That distinction is significant because Australia’s model Work Health and Safety laws must be adopted by individual jurisdictions before becoming legally binding, and requirements can vary across the country.
The guidelines therefore direct users to check local legislation while using the AS/NZS 1576 series as a benchmark for the design, manufacture and safe use of scaffolding.
Among the central themes is the allocation of responsibilities between the different parties involved in scaffolding work.
The document examines the duties of asset owners, clients, scaffold contractors, designers and users, including the need to communicate site hazards, verify the capacity of supporting structures and manage completed scaffolds during use.
It also addresses situations where several businesses hold overlapping safety duties on the same project.
SAA general manager Erryn O’Brien said the guidance was intended to provide a practical industry reference and improve consistency between those responsible for procuring, designing, building and managing scaffolds.
“The Guidelines have been developed to provide practical, industry-led guidance that complements existing legislation, Australian Standards and manufacturer information,” she said.
“They are intended to support greater consistency across the industry and provide a practical reference for scaffold contractors, principal contractors, engineers, clients, regulators and other stakeholders involved in scaffolding.”
The publication devotes separate sections to compliance and risk management, training and certification, site management, safe erection and dismantling, scaffold components, design documentation and the management of completed structures.
It also sets out the three Australian High Risk Work Licence categories covering basic, intermediate and advanced scaffolding.
Under Australian legislation, an appropriate licence is required where a person or object could fall four metres or more. However, SAA states in the document that it regards all scaffolding work as high risk, regardless of height, and believes scaffolds should be erected by suitably experienced licensed scaffolders.
The safe erection section describes three recognised approaches: advanced guardrail systems, the progressive or “dummy lift” method, and the tunnelling method.
These are ranked according to the hierarchy of controls, with advanced guardrails identified as an engineering control and the other two methods treated as administrative controls, with fall-arrest equipment required in some circumstances.
Detailed guidance is also provided on bracing, ties, foundations, platform duty ratings, access, containment sheeting and the additional loading created by wind, rain and materials placed on a scaffold.
The design section explains when a scaffold may require engineering input, including structures that fall outside manufacturers’ instructions or the parameters of the relevant Australian Standards.
The guidelines are being made freely available, which SAA said reflected its aim of raising standards beyond its membership.
They will also form the basis of a wider technical framework. Further editions are planned, alongside a series of Technical Guidance Notes being developed by the association’s Technical and Engineering Committee.
O’Brien described the publication as the starting point for a body of guidance that would continue to develop as industry practices and technical requirements evolve.
Layher UK welcomed scaffolding contractors, customers and industry professionals to its Eggborough depot this week, with a well-attended open morning centred on technical demonstrations and industry discussion.
The event, held on 21 July, formed part of the company’s 2026 “Sizzle & Learn” series and focused on demonstrations of Layher’s Flex Beam and Twix Beam systems. Visitors also had the chance to discuss project requirements, technical support and product applications with Layher’s engineering and sales teams.
Layher UK Managing Director Sean Pike described the event as a success, thanking customers, strategic partners and the company’s brand ambassadors for their support.
“We had a great vibe throughout the morning,” he said. “There were plenty of positive comments, lots of industry discussion and idea sharing, along with demonstrations of new products. Our Eggborough team worked hard and put on a great show.”
The regional open mornings have become a regular feature of Layher UK’s customer engagement programme, giving contractors an opportunity to see products demonstrated in a depot environment while speaking directly with technical specialists.
Following the success of the Eggborough event, Pike also confirmed that Layher will revive its larger flagship Open Day at its Letchworth headquarters in 2027.
The event is expected to include appearances from Georg Layher and Carolin Langer and will bring together customers, suppliers and industry partners from across the UK.
Before then, Layher’s attention will turn to ScaffEx26 in September, where the company will again exhibit its latest systems and technical solutions.
The Scaffold & Access Industry Association will hold its annual convention at the JW Marriott Nashville from 28 to 30 July, bringing together contractors, manufacturers, engineers, suppliers and training providers from across the United States and overseas.
The International Access and Scaffolding Association will also meet during the event, giving national trade bodies and industry organisations an opportunity to discuss issues affecting the sector across different markets.
This year’s programme combines technical education, business sessions, live demonstrations and exhibition time.
Several software and technology companies are due to demonstrate products on the opening day, including Avontus, Scaffold Calc, ScaffPlan, CrewTracks, KEWAZO and MCS Rental Software.
The wider conference programme will examine some of the main pressures facing contractors, including rising insurance costs, workforce wellbeing, equipment standards and the use of artificial intelligence in estimating, safety and project management.
Technical sessions will cover suspended scaffold engineering, counterweights and outrigger beam forces, while industry leaders will also provide updates on the work of SAIA’s councils and committees.
The programme includes an economic outlook for the US construction sector and presentations from winners of the latest SAIA Project Awards.
The exhibition hall will run throughout the convention, giving delegates access to scaffold systems, suspended access equipment, software, safety products and contractor services.
Scaffmag will report from Nashville throughout the event, covering product announcements, company news and the main issues being discussed across the industry.
The 2026 SAIA Annual Convention & Exposition takes place at the JW Marriott Nashville from 28 to 30 July.
Jersey Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident on Grande Route de la Côte in St Clement on Tuesday 21 July.
The truck was travelling along the coastal road between 12.45pm and 1.05pm when a ladder came off the vehicle and struck 2 pedestrians on the beach-side pavement near the Ambassador Hotel.
An adult woman and a child both suffered injuries.
Police said the driver is understood to have turned the vehicle around to check on the pair and recover the ladder.
The truck has been described as having a grey and red cab, with a red diagonal stripe across the front. It was carrying several scaffolding tubes on the rear.
Officers are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could help their enquiries, to contact Jersey Police on 612612.
Information can also be given anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its online reporting service.
The Canadian manufacturer of building maintenance units, suspended platforms and fall protection systems will join Alimak Group’s Facade Access division.
Alimak Group has agreed to acquire Canadian suspended access and fall protection specialist Pro-Bel for MSEK1.37bn, around US$142m.
Pro-Bel is based near Toronto and employs around 140 people. The company reported revenue of MSEK473m, equivalent to about US$49m.
Its product range includes permanent building maintenance units, suspended access platforms, davit arm systems, outrigger beams and fall protection anchors.
The business will become part of Alimak Group’s Facade Access division once the transaction is completed.
Alimak said the deal would strengthen its position in North America and increase its exposure to the low and mid-rise building market.
The group also plans to introduce Pro-Bel’s products into other countries through its existing sales network.
Ole Kristian Jødahl, president and CEO of Alimak Group, said: “Pro-Bel is a strong strategic fit for Alimak Group and supports our strategy to further diversify the business and increase resilience.
“The acquisition strengthens our position in North America, expands our offering and adds a highly profitable business with a proven track record of maintaining high profitability over time.
“Together, we will be even better positioned to create value for customers and continue delivering profitable growth for our owners.”
Pro-Bel founder and chief executive Marc Lebel will remain with the company during a transition period to support the integration.
Lebel said: “We are pleased to join Alimak Group and become part of a global leader in access and safety solutions.
“Alimak Group shares our long-term perspective, customer focus and commitment to quality and safety.”
The transaction is expected to close before the end of July 2026.
The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) will launch its Australian Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding on Monday 27 July, providing the industry with a single reference document covering scaffold planning, design, erection, use and dismantling.
The guidelines have been developed to give scaffold contractors, principal contractors, clients, engineers, designers and scaffold users clearer guidance on their responsibilities throughout every stage of a project.
Available free of charge, the document brings together practical advice across nine areas, including compliance, risk management, training, site management, scaffold design, inspections and the safe use of different scaffold systems.
One of the biggest themes running through the publication is accountability. Rather than focusing solely on scaffold contractors, the guidance explains the duties of everyone involved in the scaffolding process, from clients and principal contractors through to supervisors, engineers and end users.
The document also includes technical diagrams, tables and worked examples covering subjects such as foundations, bracing, ties, platform loadings and scaffold stability.
Among the recommendations is a preventative approach to scaffold inspections. The SAA advises inspections at least every 14 days, before first use, after any alteration and following severe weather or any incident that could affect a scaffold’s integrity.
The guidance is divided into nine sections:
The SAA said the decision to make the guidelines freely available reflects its aim of improving safety, consistency and professionalism across the Australian scaffolding sector.
The association also confirmed the publication is the first stage of a wider technical programme.
Over the coming months, its Technical and Engineering Committee plans to publish a series of Technical Guidance Notes (TGNs) covering specialist subjects in greater detail. These documents will be available exclusively to SAA members, alongside other member resources including scaffold design guidance, Safe Work Method Statement templates and technical documentation.
The new guidelines will be available from Monday 27 July through the Scaffolding Association Australia’s website.
