European Materials Handling Federation (FEM)
FEM
For over 50 years, SEMA’s Technical Committee has played an active role in supporting and influencing the materials handling industry. As a leading voice within the storage equipment industry, our Technical Committee is well renowned for providing definitive technical guidance, Codes of Practice and other publications. Members of the committee are involved at both national and European levels through membership of the British Materials Handling Federation (BMHF) and the European Materials Handling Federation (FEM). SEMA is also the UK National Committee Member of one of FEM’s seven product groups; Racking and Shelving.
What Role Does SEMA Play in FEM?
Back in the 1980s, SEMA joined as an early member of the British Materials Handling Federation (BMHF) and FEM – the European Materials Handling Federation.
Today, linked to BMFH, it is a major contributor to FEM, leading a number of initiatives. Importantly, SEMA is the UK National Committee Member of one of it’s seven product groups. The group is Racking and Shelving which derives product standardisation. Over the years, other SEMA technical publications have heavily influenced the content of FEM’s technical library.
What is FEM?
FEM stands for Federation Européenne de la Manutention but it is also known as the European Materials Handling Federation. Since it was founded in 1953, it has represented European manufacturers of materials handling, lifting and storage equipment. Today it consists of 13 members from the EU, the UK and Turkey.
FEM aims to encourage technical progress, safety at work, sustainable development and energy efficiency in the materials handling industry. They proactively work towards developing technical standards and implementing guidance on legislation adopted at both European and international levels.
FEM membership is open to the national organisations of European countries representing manufacturers of materials handling equipment or their association. Each member unites to become a driving force in promoting best practices in FEM industries and as an industry leader on the world market. FEM represents more than 1,000 companies with about 160,000 employees, covering around 80% of all eligible European companies. It thus accounts for more than half of the world’s total production.
The materials handling, lifting and storage industry covers 7 different types of equipment: conveyors for bulk handling, cranes and lifting equipment, elevating equipment, industrial trucks, intralogistics systems, mobile elevating work platforms and racking & shelving.
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