Comments Archive

Electric avenue
17 June 2022 It was nice to catch up with some familiar faces at this year's Vertikal Days show in the UK in mid-May, not to mention all the new people we met whilst there.

Preparation is key to success
24 May 2022 Fail to prepare; prepare to fail. An old adage, perhaps, yet one that rings true... particularly when it comes to complex lifting and transportation procedures.

The path of progression
29 April 2022 Progression; development; evolution; and refinement: these are the key themes that underpin much of the content in this month's issue. They are, of course, positive attributes true of mankind in general but they are highlighted, showcased even, when viewed through the focused lens of the construction industry.

Building bridges...
24 March 2022 I'd like to start this month's comment with an apology.

Historical Perspectives
17 February 2022 For those of you into your tower crane history, we have a real treat for you this month. Contributor Stuart Anderson's article on page 31 provides great insight into how the tower crane market has developed since its start and, crucially, how it has changed over the last 20 years.

A golden anniversary
21 January 2022 In November 1972 the first ever edition of Cranes Today magazine was published. This means, later this year, we will turn 50! To celebrate this golden anniversary, over the course of 2022, we will look back at some classic issues from across the decades. This will be in print, across our social media pages and on our website. Digital copies of archive issues will also be made available; if you're interested in obtaining one please get in touch.

Evolution of the species
28 December 2021 Adaptability is a key quality for survival and it is a attribute demonstrated throughout this issue.

A journey of a thousand miles
29 November 2021 To paraphrase ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu’s well-known motivational proverb: ‘Even the longest journey starts with the first step’. This saying is thought to have originated in the sixth century BC but it also works as a mantra for current times and can be seen as a theme running throughout this issue.

Making connections
28 October 2021 Attending Vertikal Days, the first lifting equipment trade show I've been to in a year-and-a-half (since March 2020), was an enjoyable experience. I was apprehensive at first as I'd barely even left my village during the pandemic - working on my own from a home office. Yet with abundant supplies of hand sanitiser, social distancing protocols in place, and everyone behaving sensibly, any worries around Covid rapidly subsided. Being...

Adaptability nurtures innovation
30 September 2021 Hi, I'm the new editor of Cranes Today; some of you may already know me from my previous job in the world of crane publishing. Starting a new job at the tail end of a global pandemic is certainly a new experience for me. It's particularly strange as, apart from being lucky enough to continuing writing about cranes and specialised transport, I'm still working from the same (home) office. To mark the occasion I am now sitting on the other side...

Cranes and names
05 August 2021 Peter Eiler, Rudolf Becker, Helmut Blasé, Heinz Heyer, Dieter Jurgens... Have you ever heard of these people? The answer is ‘probably not’; and it is a pity. They are, or were, engineers of great skill, perhaps genius; and in his article on page 21 Stuart Anderson explains what it was exactly that they did and achieved. Spoiler alert: all these people and more contributed hugely to the development and improvement of the hundred-tonne...

New Beginnings
27 July 2021 The crane industry predominantly consists of long-established manufacturers, many of which were founded just after World War II. This is the reason why when a company decides to enter the market is big news.

Upward pressure on prices
17 June 2021 Will buyers of new and used cranes have to pay a higher price for machines in the coming years?

The new oil
20 May 2021 When interviewed for a feature on the Middle East market a few months ago, executive director at Al Faris Kieve Pinto said low oil prices caused uncertainty in the market and that there was a drop in investment in large scale oil and gas projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A real threat
21 April 2021 ‘Connectivity’, ‘Big Data’, ‘Industry 4.0’, ‘Internet of Things’ are popular buzzwords, predominantly associated with positive effects on business. Technological evolution has benefited businesses in various ways, most importantly by boosting efficiency of production.

Shifting trends?
08 March 2021 Urbanisation was a topic mentioned in a number of presentations delivered by industry experts at our Tower Crane Virtual Conference. It is a trend that had a major impact in the crane market, both in terms of demand as well as product development.

Rising to the challenge
12 February 2021 Over the past year, there has been a lot of discussion about the challenges the industry is facing because of the pandemic. Operations had to be stopped or altered, while sales revenues have been affected.

By the thousands
11 January 2021 At the end of 2020, Mammoet launched the 6,000t-capacity SK6,000, which the company says will allow for the construction of bigger FSPO and FLNG modules onshore. This was the second launch of a machine with a capacity exceeding 1,000t within a period of few weeks.

A year in review
04 December 2020 This year we have been constantly bombarded with negative news about coronavirus; but looking back over our news coverage of 2020, I realised that it was a year with numerous exciting product launches and updates.

Decision time
06 November 2020 At times of economic downturn, companies often have to make big and hard decisions to maintain profitability or for their sustainability.