Most read stories of the year 2021

January

Cargotec and Konecranes to merge

Even though the news was announced at the end of 2020, our most read story on Hoist online in January 2021 was Cargotec and Konecranes agree to merge.

The proposed merger once finalised will see Konecranes merge into Cargotec with the future company’s name and location of the headquarters to be determined and announced at a later stage. 

Cargotec chairman, Ilkka Herlin, said at the time: “Sustainability has been high on Cargotec’s agenda since its foundation and this merger enables us to become a global leader in sustainable material flow. Our customers are increasingly seeking green solutions and together we will have better opportunities to solve customers’ challenges. I believe this is an excellent value creation opportunity both from a business perspective and also shaping global trade for the better. The Future Company will be well-positioned to utilise these opportunities and create strong value for its customers, employees and shareholders.” 

February

Konecranes installs Next Generation S-Series crane in the UK

Konecranes partnered with ABB in February to supply a material handling system, incorporating an S-series crane, to the company’s Drives Service Workshop (DSW) in Coalville, Leicestershire, its first installation of the next generation S-series model in the UK. 

The DSW provides reconditioning, preventative maintenance, service, repairs, spare parts and cleaning for low voltage variable speed drives and drive modules, which cannot be undertaken in the field.

Neil Rayns, engineer, DSW, ABB, said at the time, several lifting equipment providers were invited to tender for the project: “There were a number of options on the table, but the Konecranes’ proposal was the most appropriate for our requirements, representing the best engineered solution and value for money. Konecranes’ worldwide reputation for product quality, reliability and after sales support also gave us confidence that we were making the correct decision.”

The S-series crane which was installed comprises a 16.1 m span overhead single girder gantry and a 3.29 t SWL S-series electric rope hoist. The crane has cross and long travel speeds of up to 20 m/min and a hoisting speed of up to 3.1 m/min, with a 4.29 m height of lift. The crane is operated via a radio remote controller.

March

The Sky’s the Limit

Hoist celebrated International Women's Day on March, 8, 2021, by interviewing six women who work in the hoist and lifting industry to ask them what it’s like being a women in this field. Hoist spoke to Dana Emswiler who won the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) Honor Scholarship 2020-2021. The 22-year-old is studying Industrial Engineering with a focus on Supply Chain Management at the University of Pittsburgh.

LEEA CEO Award winner,Ella Cheetham, MD, Lifting Gear Products (LGP) and LEEA CEO Award 2019 winner for Outstanding Achievement,. Her father, Paul Cheetham, owns Europa Engineering Group, (of which LGP is a subsidiary) and she is also MD at PlumAlti, Altrincham (British manufacturers of polyester lifting and lashing products up to and over 75 tonne Safe Working Load).

We also spoke to Allyson Wu is the senior engineering manager in charge of development at Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) in the Crane Solutions Group; Karen Norheim, president/COO of American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO) in Douglassville, Pennsylvania; Pooja Sinha is the product marketing manager fo, Intelligent Lift Devices; G-Force, Easy Arm and Tether Track, Gorbel and Carolin Paulus, executive VP and head of Konecranes’ Industrial Equipment business.

April 

5 minutes with Vida Novak, Air Technical Industries

The first of many videos for Hoist Magazine TV (HMTV) Novak talked us through its newly launched self-erecting gantry crane, with omni-directional mobility or x-y axis for indoor or outdoor use on flat surfaces to give the user flexibility of multitasking in unusual environments or circumstances using our video platform to speak out to potential customers. 

May 

CMCO to launch Intelli-Connect Mobile+  

In a video interview with Jim Kluck, global product manager, Automation, CMCO, he announced Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) was launching Intelli-Connect Mobile+ in June, which is an upgraded version of its Intelli-Connect Mobile App for Android and iOS.

June 

PAR systems (UK) completes management buy-out from us parent company  

Announced at the end of May, PAR Systems (UK) completed a management buy-out (MBO) from its American parent company’s UK operations, enabling the UK operation to respond more efficiently to opportunities for growth, particularly in the nuclear decommissioning sector, building on existing contracts covering the Dounreay and Sellafield nuclear facilities. 

PAR Systems UK develops robotic systems, nuclear cranes and remote handling systems from its HQ in Lillyhall, Workington.

“I am really pleased to have completed the acquisition of PAR Systems for the UK and European nuclear market,” said John McGibbon, MD, PAR Systems (UK) at the time. “The MBO gives us greater independence and flexibility as an SME, and provides a platform to unlock opportunities for future growth, not only with our existing customer base, but also in new markets. We retain very close links with PAR Systems LLC in the US and look forward to working with them in the future. I can only thank them for providing me with the opportunity to take the business forward into exciting times.”

July

VDMA pens open letter to US Government on travel restrictions to the country  

Ulrich Ackermann, head of the foreign trade department at VDMA, the German machinery manufacturers’ trade association, penned an open letter to the US Government, commenting on the continuing restrictions on entry to the USA for business people.

"Business travel to the USA must once again be possible without restrictions. The US Government is currently locking out European business travellers. It is incomprehensible that the Schengen states are still classified as high-risk areas by the United States,” he said at the time.

“Vaccination rates in both regions are now similarly high and incidences in Germany, for example, are even lower than in the US. The travel restrictions for business travellers are all the less understandable given that all US citizens have been allowed to enter the Schengen area without any restrictions since mid-June.

“The NIE exemption (National Interest Exemption from the US Consulate to determine whether the purpose of travel is deemed valid to enter the USA) is of limited help, as it only applies to certain exceptional cases.”

August 

Columbus McKinnon hits the headlines again, this time with CMCO sees increased sales of 53.5% 'with record backlog and increasing order trends' 

Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) announced its financial results for its fiscal year 2022 first quarter, which ended June 30, 2021. Results included Dorner Manufacturing Corporation, which was acquired on April 7, 2021.

For the quarter, sales increased $74.4m or 53.5%. The Dorner acquisition added $34.2m in sales. In the US volume improved $20.8m or 27.8%, and price improved $0.6m, or 0.9%. 

US sales related to the acquisition were $28.3m. Outside the US, volume improved $10.5m or 16.4% and price improved $1.3m or 2.0%. The Dorner acquisition added $5.9m of sales outside the US Foreign currency translation was favorable $6.9m or 5.0% of total sales. 

“We had a very good start to fiscal 2022 delivering strong growth, expanding margins and achieving record backlog. We are encouraged by increasing demand in all markets. Importantly, we are also having success with our new products and customer solutions, as we continue to advance our Blueprint for Growth 2.0 strategy. Dorner, our new conveying solutions platform, is seeing strong demand and is outpacing expectations. We are working across the enterprise to drive growth initiatives as we pursue the many opportunities in front of us,” said David Wilson, president/CEO, Columbus McKinnon at the time.

September 

Konecranes to supply four process cranes for waste-to-energy (WTE) plant  

Konecranes announces it will supply four process cranes to one of the world’s largest Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants in Dubai, to be delivered in 2022, with handover in 2024.

An international consortium was selected by the Dubai Municipality for the project. The group consists of Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), Dubai Holding, Dubal Holding, ITOCHU Corporation, BESIX Group and the Tech Group.

The contract, booked through HZI, calls for delivering the engineering, procurement and construction of the turnkey plant and a minimum of 30 years’ operation and ownership of the resource recovery facility.

October 

HMTV: Christian Prantl, Palfinger, on its ‘European project of common interest’

Hoist video (HMTV) tops the charts again this time with the news that Palfinger partnered with GOS Tools to install a high-voltage cable travelling through the Channel Tunnel. Hoist spoke to Prantl, head of product division railway, Palfinger to find out more about the project, which is being labelled as a ‘European Project of Common Interest’, by the European Commission.

The power cable is being laid through the tunnel, securing power supply to and from Great Britain and France and Palfinger has supplied its scissor lift platforms to complete the installation.

November 

American Equipment acquires Washington Crane  

American Equipment Holdings (American Equipment), part of Rotunda Capital Partners, acquired Washington Crane & Hoist (Washington Crane), provider of overhead crane maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services and equipment in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

The acquisition of Washington Crane adds another brand to American Equipment’s portfolio of overhead crane and hoist MRO service and equipment providers, and further strengthens its position in overhead crane systems.

“We are excited to welcome the entire Washington Crane team to the American Equipment family,” said American Equipment CEO Adam Zimmerman at the time. “Leveraging both companies’ differentiated capabilities and expanded geographic footprint enables us to deliver unprecedented value to our customers. The acquisition of Washington Crane is a tremendous milestone as we reinforce our position as the trusted partner-of-choice in the overhead crane and hoist markets.”

December 

HMTV: BVS Cranes sees commercial success with largest ever made shiploader 

BVS Cranes is seeing continued success with its largest ever made Turkish Bulk Cargo Ship Loading Crane (Shiploader), which has a 1500 tons/hour capacity.

The crane can load iron ore, coal, fertilizer, grain, soda ash or similar bulk solids to ships.

Önder Topuz, sales and marketing director, BVS Cranes, spoke to Dockside Lift & Move (DLM), part of Hoist magazine, about its three Port Solutions; its Shiploaders, Mobile Shiploaders and Dock Cranes, explaining the importance of Turkey’s geographical location and more.

If you would like to take part in Hoist Magazine TV series get in touch with editor Jenny Eagle on Jennifer.eagle@progressivemediainternational.com

The next edition of Dockside Lift & Move (DLM) will be featuring in Hoist March 2022 edition. If you would like to share any news in this sector and to advertise your services contact Joe Woolerton, Hoist sales director on joe.woolerton@hoistmagazine.com tel: +44 20 7406 6687