The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has opened nominations for 2010 inductees into its Hall of Fame program for the off-road equipment industry.

Nominees must be from the manufacturing, distribution, rental or end-user sectors of the industry. Candidates will be evaluated on the five criteria: innovation, industry contributions, leadership, corporate citizenship and sustainability.

Any person, living or deceased, whose contributions have helped improve the industry is eligible.

AEM created the Hall of Fame in 1993 to honour the individuals who have invented, managed, built and led the off-road equipment industry. Since then, over 35 industry leaders have been inducted.

AEM senior vice president Al Cervero says the industry continues to face challenges of "a shrinking workforce, insufficient funding for an overburdened infrastructure and a changing global marketplace".

"We hope the innovation and creativity exemplified by Hall of Fame members will inspire the next generation to continue our industry's legacy of productivity, sustainability and growth," he says.

Nominations can only be submitted online at the Hall of Fame website. The deadline for submissions is 27 July 2010. An independent panel of industry experts will evaluate the nominees. For more information, email Liz Stock at lstock@aem.org.

Link: www.aemhalloffame.com