Cranes Today launches the "Estas"

Cranes Today magazine, in association with ESTA, the European association of heavy haulage transport and mobile cranes, has launched a new series of industry awards, to be known as the "Estas".

The award scheme is the initiative of ESTA president Christian-Jacques Vernazza, who owns France's largest mobile crane hire company, Mediaco. He is keen to raise the profile of ESTA and increase its activities.

Awards for Crane Job of the Year and Heavy Haulage Job of the Year are open to all companies that are members of ESTA-affiliated organisations (see below). In addition, awards will be made for Mobile Crane of the Year in three categories: up to 80t lifting capacity, 81t to 199t, and 200t and above. There will also be an award for Personality of the Year.

The first Esta awards ceremony will be held at an ESTA users night party on the evening of Wednesday 31 March, during the Bauma fair, at the Munich Hofbrauhaus.

Tickets for this event are free to ESTA members and their equipment suppliers, though numbers are limited and so early applications are encouraged.

For more details on how to enter the Job of the Year competitions, or to reserve your free ticket for the awards party in Munich, contact Julie Rossiter, Cranes Today events manager (email: jrossiter@wilmington.co.uk, fax: +44 208 269 7803, or tel +44 208 269 7779).

ESTA member organisations are: ABEL G (Belgium), BSK (Germany), ANNA (Italy), VVT (Netherlands), TLN (Netherlands), RAI (Netherlands), HTA (UK), CPA (UK), SNUG (France), FNTR (France), Danske BYGERRI (Denmark), SKAL (Finland) and TRANSBIAGA SL (Spain).