Every issue of Crane Hot Line magazine is focused on the crane industry—equipment, related products and services, business issues, and equipment for sale.
800-231-8953 515-574-2312
Fax: 515-574-2361 Email Us
Crane Headlines
September 2009
Tower Crane Dismantling Derrick Now Available in North America
September 22, 2009 – Dismantling tower cranes from tall buildings is no simple task, but Liebherr’s 200 DR 5/10 derrick crane is designed specifically for the challenge. This summer, Salem, Ore.-based Morrow Equipment introduced the crane to the North American market and leased it to Sellen Construction in Seattle, Wash. ...Read Full Article
Guiffre Bros. Launches New Crane for Sign Industry
September 21, 2009 – Giuffre Bros. Cranes, Milwaukee, Wis., has introduced the SKY KING 3680 specifically for the sign industry. The new crane features an 80-foot main boom length with the main boom and a 120-foot tip height with the jib extension. Total lifting capacity is 36,000 pounds.
September 18, 2009 – Earlier this month, Imperial Crane Service, Bridgeview, Ill., celebrated its 40th anniversary with hundreds of customers, suppliers, and crane industry leaders. Among those in attendance were Ron Dogotch, general manager of Tadano America, and John Wilson, director of sales and marketing for Sany America. ...Read Full Article
August 2009
Maximum Capacity Media to Hold 2010 Crane & Rigging Conference
August 11, 2009 – Fort Dodge, Iowa-based Maximum Capacity Media, publisher of Lift and Access and Crane Hot Line magazines has announced plans to host its first Crane & Rigging Conference in May 2010. The two-day event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Houston/Greenspoint in Houston, Texas. ...Read Full Article
WHECO Opens Repair Facility in Houston
August 11, 2009 – WHECO Corporation, Richland, Wash., has opened crane service center in Houston, Texas, in an effort to meet demand for the company’s services in the south central United States.
Strategically located to service a large geographic area, the 3.5-acre, 38,600 square-foot facility will accommodate WHECO’s full turnkey crane repair and restoration capabilities.
Sany Crawlers to Debut at Imperial Crane’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
August 6, 2009 -Imperial Crane Services, Bridgeview, Ill., is marking 40 years in the crane industry with an open house in September, which will include a demonstration of new Sany crawler crane models. The late John Bohne started the company in 1969 with a single crane. Touted today as the largest locally-owned full-service crane company in the Midwest, Imperial is run by its late founder’s sons, B.J., Lance and Jonathan. ...Read Full Article
July 2009
Tadano Warns Customers of Counterfeit Cranes
July 13, 2009 – Crane manufacturer Tadano has released a statement to customers regarding counterfeit cranes, warning that counterfeit Tadano products have been appearing on the market worldwide. The fakes are mostly of a mix-and-match type made up of parts of used Tadano machines and those of other manufacturers and being sold as used Tadano products.
Manitex International Acquires Badger Equipment Company
July 13, 2009 –Manitex International, Inc., Bridgeview, Ill., has acquired Badger Equipment Company, a Winona, Minn.-based manufacturer of specialized rough-terrain cranes and material handling products from Avis Industrial for $3 million. Badger, which commenced operations in 1945, manufactures specialized earthmoving, railroad and material handling equipment, parts and ancillary products under several brand names, including Badger and Little Giant. ...Read Full Article
Industry Reacts to N.Y. Crane Database
July 10, 2009 – The New York City Department of Buildings announced in June its intent to create a database to track tower cranes and their parts. The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) responded with a letter written to The New York Times and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, criticizing the effort, primarily because there’s no research showing that such a database will improve safety or reduce accidents. Meanwhile, a private initiative of Frank Bardonaro, president of AmQuip Crane Rental, Philadelphia, Pa., aims to track repair and maintenance records of mobile and tower cranes. Another key feature of the site allows crane rental companies to list certifications earned by operators and riggers. ...Read Full Article
June 2009
Protecting the Public
The crane and rigging industry has made national headlines too many times over the last few years. A recent internet search returned articles about crane accidents in Texas, Florida, Kansas, Colorado, Louisiana, North Carolina, Maryland, Hawaii, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. That’s not to mention the major tower crane accidents in cities like New York, Miami, and Seattle. ...Read Full Article
NCCER/NACB Sets Dates for Crane Practical Examiner Training Program
June 11, 2009 – To keep costs down, employers are looking to their own staff members to administer practical examinations to potential mobile crane operators. NCCER/NACB’s nationally accredited crane operator certification program provides a mechanism for employers to have a practical examiner on staff. The NCCER/NACB Crane Practical Examiner program is designed—and necessary—for practical examiners to become trained to perform NCCER/NACB’s mobile crane operator certification.
...Read Full Article
Converging Cranes
June 9, 2009 – When it comes to construction machinery, there often can be several tools that meet the needs of the job. But deciding which machine to use boils down to finding the best solution for the application at hand. Some job requirements are such that they fall in between two product sizes—and sometimes even two crane types altogether. As self-erecting cranes creep up in size and capacity, the lines between city tower cranes and the larger self erector categories start to blur. So when is a self erector the best solution? When is a city crane needed for the job? Here, the experts take on the issue of self erectors versus city tower cranes.
...Read Full Article
Badger Equipment Returns to RT Crane Market
June 9, 2009 –Badger Equipment Co., Winona, Minn., will re-enter the mobile crane market this year with 20- and 30-ton cab-down style rough-terrain cranes. The Badger brand RTs will partner with a product line of rail-mounted, truck, and crawler cranes currently produced under the Little Giant brand name. ...Read Full Article
May 2009
Lift and Access Now Accepting 2009 LLEAP Award Entries
May 26, 2009 – For the fifth year, Lift and Access is holding the Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms (LLEAP) Awards, which are intended to recognize products, accessories, or design concepts that are considered innovative or have advanced the state of the lifting equipment industry. To qualify for consideration, products must have been introduced or delivered to the North American market between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009. ...Read Full Article
Trailer Manufacturers Introduce Crane Transport Products
May 26, 2009 – Choosing the right trailer helps crane owners get on the road more quickly, although the selection process can be highly specialized. Crane Hot Line addresses how your trailer manufacturer can help you break through logistics logjams in an upcoming issue. Read the full story in the June digital issue.
May 19, 2009 – Joel Oliva, special projects coordinator for the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), Fairfax, Va., recently gave an update on new program development at the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association’s annual conference. During 2008 the NCCCO focused on developing exams for signal persons and riggers. Signal person Certification debuted last fall and the first test for Rigger (Basic Level) was given on April 17, 2009. The Intermediate Level is scheduled for roll-out this summer, followed by Advanced Level in August or September. ...Read Full Article
Pat Fiscelli to Retire from Lifting Gear Hire
May 14, 2009 – Pat Fiscelli, vice president of Lifting Gear Hire (LGH), Bridgeview, Ill., will retire on May 31. He is the company’s first U.S. employee and helped launch the lifting equipment company’s North American headquarters 19 years ago. The LGH Board of Directors have promoted Pat’s son, Tony Fiscelli, to fill his father’s shoes. Formerly LGH’s general manager, Tony began his career with the company in 1992 and has been an integral part of the growth and success of the business the past 17 years. Tony will assume the role of president of U.S.A. Operations, effective June 1, the anniversary of LGH’s 1990 entry into the U.S. market. ...Read Full Article
Self Erectors Speed Up Construction at the University of Indianapolis
May 12, 2009 – At the University of Indianapolis, a student dormitory under construction fell behind schedule due to winter weather. In order for the dorm to be ready for the fall semester, which begins on August 24, a Potain HDT 80 self-erecting crane was called in to help the pre-existing Potain Igo T 70 self erector onsite.
May 12, 2009 – While specific trade organizations, like the Crane Certification Association of America, can be helpful in finding a crane inspector, asking for references from the inspection firm you locate will give you the best indication of what you're getting, says Gary Campbell, of PIC Crane Safety Services, Clermont, Fla. “There is a lot of competition out there and a lot of companies and individuals might not give you exactly what you’re expecting.” ...Read Full Article
United Rentals Announces Q1 2009 Results, Plans 39 More Branch Closures
May 4, 2009 – Last week, United Rentals, Greenwich, Conn., announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2009 and restructuring initiatives for the second quarter.
April 28, 2009 – Companies that find ways to better manage and leverage information have an edge over competitors. Fleet managers are discovering that tracking assets with telematics using cellular technology, GPS hardware, and the internet can supply them with the information they need to better control their operations. Telematics can help develop better equipment utilization and efficiency, accurate billing, and improved maintenance scheduling—all items that contribute to reduced operating costs and increased revenues. ...Read Full Article
Slim and Trim Grove AT Turns Heads
April 14, 2009 – Last fall, Manitowoc unveiled the GMK 5135, the newest member of its five-axle Grove all-terrain (AT) crane lines, during an open house held at the Manitowoc, Wis., company’s Wilhelmshaven, Germany, facility. Equipped with a five-section telescopic boom, the crane was displayed in a demonstration event on the company’s test pad, one of several new introductions shown off to customers and dealers. Next week, the crane will also be shared with attendees at Intermat 2009 in Paris, France. ...Read Full Article
New Training Course Released for Lift Directors
April 9, 2009 – In an effort to provide the training necessary for lift directors to meet ASME B30.5-2007 requirements, Industrial Training International Inc. (ITI) launched in 2009 a new Mobile Crane Lift Director and Site Supervisor training course. The first class was held in March at the company’s facility in Woodland, Wash. Other programs are scheduled for Aug. 25 and Oct. 7, 2009. ...Read Full Article
Manitowoc Makes BusinessWeek List of Top Performers
April 6, 2009 – In its 13th annual list of the 50 top-performing companies, BusinessWeek magazine named Manitowoc No. 37.
The list of the 50 best corporate performers is arrived at by running data screens on all of the companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, focusing on sales growth rate and return on invested capital, according to the magazine. ...Read Full Article
Elliott Equipment Introduces 50-Ton Boom Truck
April 3, 2009 –Elliott Equipment Company, Omaha, Neb., has introduced its new 50-ton capacity boom truck. Designated the 50105, the unit features 105 feet of powered main boom and a 115-foot tip height.
...Read Full Article
March 2009
ALL Erection & Crane Rental Offers Online Load Chart Access
March 19, 2009 – If a load chart exists for a crane or lift equipment, chances are it can be found in the Cleveland, Ohio-based ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp.’s online load chart library. For every crane in its fleet, as well as many other models, All Erection provides a convenient resource in its nearly complete collection of load charts and specs. ...Read Full Article
Manitowoc Unveils Grove GSK55 Mobile Crane
March 10, 2009 – Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wis., will introduce its new GSK55 mobile crane at Intermat 2009. The crane combines the lift ability of a Grove all-terrain crane with the flexibility and mobility of a standard on-road truck. It merges the upper works from Grove’s GMK3055 all-terrain crane with a specially designed truck chassis that acts as a trailer. Customers can then use the tractor of their choice to haul the crane to jobsites. ...Read Full Article
February 2009
Recognize Team Players through 2009 People of Distinction
February 24, 2009 – Within any organization is a person, department, or team whose work not only benefits the employer but also contributes positively to the industry as a whole. Lift and Access magazine would like to publicly recognize the individuals who have made a difference through their philanthropy, creativity, research, innovation, or hard work.
...Read Full Article
Crane Hot Line Announces Top Trainer Award Details, Seeks Sponsors
February 10, 2009 – Realizing that effective training will continue to play a critical role in the overall safety of crane and rigging operations, Crane Hot Line will again recognize the industry’s top trainers in an awards program to be featured in the November 2009 issue. Trainers will be recognized for having a positive impact on students, the work environment or the industry through the use of innovative training techniques or hands-on instruction, by encouraging peer or corporate accountability, and/or through quantitative evidence that the training was successful. ...Read Full Article
Eagle West Provides Crane Services to Bear Mountain Wind Farm
February 10, 2009 – Eagle West Cranes, Abbotsford, British Columbia, and its wholly owned subsidiary Stampede Crane and Rigging have been awarded the crane services contract for the Bear Mountain wind farm. The project will start June 2009 and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009.
...Read Full Article
ANSI Commends CCO Practical Exams
February 6, 2009 – The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) has been commended by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the development of its practical examinations. Specifically, the commendation was awarded for NCCCO’s development of “inter-rater reliability measures” for its practical exams.
Manitowoc’s CraneSTAR System Aids Fleet Management
January 28, 2009 – Manitowoc, Wis.-based Manitowoc Crane Group will introduce CraneSTAR fleet management system at Intermat 2009. The innovative new product will be one of the highlights of the Manitowoc stand at the show and boasts a number of industry firsts.
CICB Forms Alliance with Bishop Lifting Products to Provide Training, Inspections
January 28, 2009 – Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau, Orlando, Fla., formed a training alliance with Bishop Lifting Products Inc., Houston, Texas, to provide scheduled training courses in Houston and on-site training courses at customers' facilities. CICB has moved its Houston-based training center to the Bishop Lifting Products facility.
January 29, 2009 – Luffer and all SAE conventional capacity tests on Link-Belt’s 550-ton 548 lattice-boom crawler crane are complete. Currently, machines on the test pads at Hitachi Sumitomo’s facility in Saijo, Japan, are completing function testing and load moment calibration and verification. Shipments into North America are planned for the second quarter of 2009.
Bigge Helps to Rejuvenate California Neighborhoods
January 13, 2009 – Bigge Crane & Rigging Company, San Leandro, Calif., is working to put the finishing touches on another new building located in the South Beach/China Basin Waterfront of San Francisco, Calif. The former industrial district now houses mixed-use residential and commercial waterfront neighborhoods.
December 16, 2008 – A new crane operator certification program is now accredited by the American National Standards Institute. First introduced in late 2006, the certification is a collaboration of The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), North American Crane Bureau (NACB), and Prov.
Liebherr Crane Speeds Construction on Portland’s Big Pipe
December 16, 2008 – The East Side Combined Sewer Outflow (CSO) project in Portland, Ore., is designed to significantly reduce sewage and storm water overflows into the city’s Willamette River. When completed in December 2011, it will collect and intercept overflows from 12 existing combined sewer outfalls that discharge to the river.
December 2, 2008 – It turns out that Zero the polar bear is not smarter than the average bear. After he fell from his habitat at the Milwaukee County Zoo and ended up in a moat on Oct. 13, it took a crane from Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental Inc. to lift the 1,500-pound male polar bear out of his predicament. He could have climbed out of the moat on his own by using the steps back up to the exhibit, but instead he decided to remain in the moat until zoo officials finally had to call in the heavy equipment.
November 26, 2008 – Montreal, Quebec-based CMLabs Inc. has delivered a four-screen, VxMaster lattice-boom crane simulator to the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO). The state-of-the-art operator training simulator features training simulations for pile-driving, clam-shell operation and jib training, all modeled after a Manitowoc 8500.
November 18, 2008 – Lift and Access has named winners of its Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms (LLEAP) Awards, which are intended to recognize products, accessories, or design concepts that are considered innovative or have advanced the state of the lifting equipment industry. The Platinum winners for the fourth annual LLEAP Awards were Waco, Texas-based Manitou for its MHT Series telehandlers and La Farlede, France-based Made-SA for its Sky Mx power line detection system.
November 3, 2008 – Hyde Park Acquisition Corp. has completed its acquisition of Essex Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, Essex Crane Rental Corp. The transaction was completed after Hyde Park's shareholders voted to approve the acquisition at a special meeting last week. In conjunction with the acquisition, Hyde Park changed its name to Essex Rental Corp.
October 10, 2008 • Liebherr Nenzing Crane Co., Houston, Texas, is now fitting handrails as standard on top of crawler cranes delivered to U.S. customers to reduce the risk of operators falling while climbing over the crane.
...Read Full Article
OSHA Publishes Long-Anticipated Cranes and Derricks Rule
October 9, 2008 • The long-awaited new OSHA rule governing use of cranes and derricks has been published in today's Federal Register. At 241 pages, it explains everything in the proposed rule, plus what is excluded from it and why. Comments and hearing requests are due by Dec. 8, 2008, giving the public just 60 days to review it and comment. Interested parties can submit comments, referencing Docket ID OSHA-2007-0066 or RIN No. 1218-AC01, via www.regulations.gov.
Manitowoc Adds Five-Axle to Line of All-Terrain Cranes
October 9, 2008 • Manitowoc launched the latest addition to its range of five-axle Grove all-terrain cranes, the GMK5110-1. Customers and dealers were the first to see the new crane at a special open day at the Manitowoc facility in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. It was introduced at a demonstration event on the company's test pad as part of a series of product displays.
September 24, 2008 • Barnhart Crane & Rigging, Memphis, Tenn., announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Barnhart Northeast Inc., has acquired Marino Crane, a 55-year-old Middletown, Conn., company providing crane, heavy lifting, transport and rigging services.
September 8, 2008 • Manitowoc will launch three new Dongyue truck cranes, manufactured at its Manitowoc factory in Tai'an, China, at bauma China 2008. Manitowoc's booth covers over 700 square meters and is significantly larger than the company's last appearance at the show two years ago. The show takes place Nov. 25-28 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
September 5, 2008 • The new series of tower cranes from Linden Comansa have now a date of commercialization. The smallest models of the new LC 1100 Series, the 11 LC 90 5t and the 11 LC 90 6t, have been available since July. The other four models in the series • 11 LC 132 with 5 tons of maximum load, 11 LC 132 with 6 tons, the 11 LC 150 with 8 tons and the 11 LC 160, with 8 tons • will be available this month.
August 20, 2008 • Smaller pieces of construction equipment are typically the most frequent targets for theft on the jobsite. Skid-steer loaders and tractors may be near the top of the stolen equipment list, but that doesn't mean that aerial work platforms and cranes are immune to the problem.
NCCER Works to Bridge Language Barrier in Construction Industry
August 8, 2008 • National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Gainesville, Fla., has partnered with constructNet International (cNI), Phoenix, Ariz., to provide online instructional language resources for the construction industry to help bridge the language barrier between employers and employees.
Cranes Assist in Building Millennium Park Pedestrian Bridge
August 6, 2008 • A steel pedestrian bridge will span 620 feet from Chicago's Millennium Park across Monroe Street to the third-floor level of the Art Institute's new under-construction Modern Wing. Setting the bridge on course required precise planning to accommodate the tight site in a congested area downtown.
Self-Erector Makes the Grade on Tight Construction Project
July 9, 2008 • Providing the right equipment for a project can result in increased construction productivity, as well as lower costs. Eagle West Tower Cranes demonstrated this principle as it planned for the unique needs of a project for Westridge Construction Ltd. of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Construction Lifters Introduces Load Lifter for Safe Handling
July 9, 2008 • Rockford, Ill.-based Construction Lifters now offers its new Adjustable Load Lifter, designed to help operators use cranes to safely handle a wide range of loads. The adjustable load lifter allows the user to adjust the lifter to fit the load. Models are available in 1- and 2-ton capacities.
