2025 LLEAP Awards Highlight Crane and Lifting Innovations

The 2025 Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms (LLEAP) Awards, hosted by Lift&Access Magazine, recognized the year’s top innovations shaping crane, telehandler, and aerial operations across North America. Winners were selected across four categories: aftermarket support products, features and components, material handlers, and mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs).

Crane and lifting industry standouts include:

Aftermarket Support Products & Services:

Gold – LGH Multi-Lug Lifting Beam: Designed for low-headroom and confined-space lifting, these beams support 4–100 tons and feature lugs on both the top and bottom, enabling single- or dual-crane lifts with precise load control. Its central lifting eye and multiple lifting points ensure even weight distribution, making it ideal for construction, energy, and industrial lifting operations.

Silver – North Valley Research RentalBay Integrated Management System: Combines cloud-based fleet management with rugged telematics hardware (TBOX) to track crane and MEWP usage, monitor engine performance, and optimize scheduling. Predictive maintenance and live GPS tracking help rental fleets and contractors minimize downtime and improve asset utilization.

Features & Components:

Gold – Merlo Space 11 Platform: An aerial work platform attachment for Merlo Roto telehandlers, providing 11-foot lateral reach and corner-wrapping mobility. Integrated basket controls allow operators to maneuver both the boom and platform simultaneously, enhancing precision on congested jobsites. Automatic load limiters ensure safe operation.

Silver – Bigfoot Modular Pocket Pad System: A modular outrigger pad system providing adaptable ground stability for cranes, lifts, and other heavy equipment. Each pad features recessed pockets to secure outrigger shoes, integrated weep holes to channel water and debris, and stackable leveling pads to adjust for uneven or sloped terrain, improving both safety and efficiency on challenging sites.

Material Handlers:

Gold – Pettibone Extendo 1044X Telehandler: Offers a 10,000-pound lift capacity and 44-foot reach without outriggers, streamlining setup and improving maneuverability in tight areas. Its three-section high-strength boom and advanced hydraulic system deliver precise, stable lifts, while the X-Command telematics system provides real-time performance and maintenance data.

Silver – Magni RTH 6.31 TC Rotating Telehandler: Combines 101-foot lift height, 88-foot reach, and 13,200-pound capacity with a tilting cab for improved operator visibility. Features include automatic load-limiting, RFID-tagged attachments, and a patented outrigger system for stability on uneven terrain.

MEWPs:

Gold – MEC 135-RJ: A diesel telescopic boom in MEC’s MAX Series, reaching 141 feet with an 8-foot multi-directional jib. Its X-style axles deploy without jacks, reducing setup space, while 4-wheel steering, hydraulic differential lock, and 45% gradeability improve maneuverability. The platform supports 900 pounds at 70 feet and 600 pounds at 80 feet of outreach.

Silver – Tadano AS-63HD: A high-capacity boom lift with 62-foot lift height and 2,200-pound platform capacity. Its four-section telescoping boom, crane-inspired mast, and no-outrigger design enable rapid deployment and precise positioning on construction and industrial sites.

Judges highlighted these winners for their innovation, safety, and operational efficiency, noting their impact on modern jobsites where cranes, aerial lifts, and telehandlers must perform with precision, reliability, and versatility.