Columbus McKinnon Expands into European Marketplace

November 17, 2006 • Amherst, N.Y.-based Columbus McKinnon Corp. announced the formation of Columbus McKinnon Europe, which expands its existing Yale Europe business to include the sale of Columbus McKinnon products in European markets.

 

“Given our strategic focus on global growth and new products, expanding our European operations is the logical next step to leverage Yale's very strong footprint there and the upcoming (wire rope) introductions,” said Timothy Tevens, president and chief executive officer of Columbus McKinnon. According to Tevens, the change will integrate the Columbus McKinnon family of products under one sales entity in Europe and will support the expansion of those products into European markets.

 

Wolfgang Wegner has been elected by the company's board of directors to lead the expanded business unit. He will serve as vice president of Columbus McKinnon Corp. and managing director of Columbus McKinnon Europe. Wegner, who was also named a member of the company's executive committee, had been the operating group leader for Yale Europe since Columbus McKinnon's 1996 acquisition of Spreckels Industries.

 

Along with the appointment of Wegner, Coumbus McKinnon also named Robert S. Clare the European business development managing director and Hans-Herbert Greif the managing director of European new and emerging markets. Clare, who previously served as managing director of Yale's operations in the United Kingdom, will oversee the integration of Columbus McKinnon products and brands into the European market. Also serving as managing director of Yale Germany, Greif will be responsible for increasing revenues in new and emerging markets in Europe, with a focus on Eastern European countries.