The 2026 ESTA Awards of Excellence, celebrating the very best in the lifting and specialised transport industry, took place in The Netherlands on April 16 at the Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk aan Zee.

With 73 entries this was the most competitive edition ever reflecting the incredible expertise and innovation across the sector; the finalists came from 23 different companies and eight countries.

The winning companies and projects, by category, are as follows:

1. COMBINED TECHNIQUES

WINNER: WAGENBORG NEDLIFT

Wagenborg successfully installed a 130-metre-long, 1,600-tonne steel arch bridge across the busy Weser River in Stolzenau, Germany. This was achieved using a combination of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), pontoons, jacking and sliding systems, and supporting equipment. The entire operation was completed within a tight timeframe, thus minimising the period of closure for commercial shipping.

(FINALISTS: Hareket, Mammoet, Sarens)

2. ABNORMAL TRANSPORT TOTAL MASS < 120 T

WINNER: OL-TRANS

In cooperation with Liburnia Poland, OL-TRANS completed the transport of 15 wind turbine blades, each measuring 77 metres in length, in five convoys from the Port of Gdańsk to Ukraine. This 1,150 km operation required meticulous planning and precise execution, as well as coordination in conditions of elevated risk due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

(FINALISTS: Collett & Sons, Friderici Spécial, Yilnak)

3. TELESCOPIC CRANES LIFTING CAPACITY > 120 T

WINNER: AUTOVICTOR

In Bagnolo di Po, Rovigo, Italy, Autovictor installed the new Calà del Moro bridge by lifting two 59-metre, 115-tonne prefabricated steel girders into place. The major challenges involved in this project included tandem lifting across a waterway, restricted working space and the precise coordination of cranes and SPMTs to ensure the safe positioning of the bridge sections.

(FINALISTS: Aertssen Lifting, BMS, Mammoet)

4. SAFETY

WINNER: LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN

Liebherr has designed the Y-type guying telescopic boom suspension of the LTM 1400-6.1 mobile crane to significantly increase safety during assembly. The reduction in the number of assembly steps results in less working at height. Simplified assembly also ensures the safety of operating personnel.

(FINALISTS: Hareket, Yilnak)

5. INNOVATION

WINNER: SARENS

Sarens’ SGC-170 is the world’s largest fully electric ring crane. It  can lift up to 3,200 tonnes, with hook heights exceeding 200 meters. Its zero-emission drivetrain, energy recovery system, modular design and rapid relocation capability reduce energy use, downtime and lifecycle impact, setting a new standard for ultra-heavy lifting in modern mega-projects.

(FINALISTS: Fagioli, Manitowoc Cranes, Nooteboom Trailers)

6. Abnormal Transport Total Mass > 120 t

WINNER: WAGENBORG NEDLIFT

Wagenborg successfully transported six transformers, each weighing approximately 312 tonnes, to the new TenneT substation in Ter Apelkanaal, the Netherlands, through a combination of intensive engineering and preparation, while paying careful attention to people and the local environment. The result was an excellent execution to the satisfaction of all involved.

(FINALISTS: Collett & Sons, DB-PRO, MTD Skuratowicz)

7. TELESCOPIC CRANES LIFTING CAPACITY < 120 T

WINNER: MAMMOET

Upgrading large equipment in a refinery in Antwerp, Belgium required removing and installing modules in a heavily congested process area obstructed by newer structures. Mammoet addressed the challenge using Move3D modelling to create a virtual replica of the site, enabling precise lift planning, safe access and efficient execution within tight spatial constraints.

(FINALISTS: BKV, Friderici Spécial, SENN AG)

8. CRANES LATTICE BOOM

WINNER: MAMMOET

As part of maintenance activities at ExxonMobil’s Fawley Refinery in the UK, Mammoet supported the exchange of a reactor head in the Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) unit. The company’s FOCUS30 crane replaced the old 356-tonne reactor head with ease, while occupying a space only slightly larger than a five-a-side football pitch.

(FINALISTS: Aertssen Lifting, Autovictor, Fratelli Paradiso)

9. SPMT/SPT

WINNER: FAGIOLI

In October 2025, Fagioli transported two massive ship blocks for the SAMA vessel –  a fore block weighing 4,662 tonnes and an aft block weighing 5,825 tonnes, from Porto Nogaro, Italy, to Rijeka, Croatia. Using SPMTs and the barge Arcalupa, the blocks were loaded, shipped, offloaded, and precisely aligned, enabling safe, on-schedule final assembly through coordinated marine transport and planning.

(FINALISTS: Allelys, Sarens, Wagenborg Nedlift)

10. TRAINING

WINNER: LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN

Liebherr’s “Game of Cranes” is an innovative, international competition that motivates mobile crane operators worldwide to develop their skills and compete with the best in the industry. The project combines practical and theoretical challenges, fosters talent development, and places a strong focus on safety and professionalism.

(FINALISTS: BMS, Spierings Mobile Cranes)


The next ESTA event will ESTA’s 50th Anniversary Conference which will take place in Amesterdam on October 23, 2026.

📆 23 October 2026
🕒 13.00 – 17.30 h
📍 Hotel Okura Amsterdam

Book your Early Bird ticket now!
🎟 Early bird ticket: €95
⏳ Valid until April 30
👉 https://lnkd.in/erNwHVEu