Queensland authorities are planning to look closely at firms with vehicle loading cranes (VLCs) and related equipment due to recent fatal incidents and other accidents highlighting safety and compliance issues with the machines in the state.

Charges laid on crane driver
After a detailed and lengthy investigation, a crane driver has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a construction worker in 2016.

DPWA welcomes new cranes
DP World Australia’s Brisbane terminal has welcomed the first of two quay cranes to be delivered to the facility in 2018.

Liebherr reports record turnover
Liebherr Group has announced the highest turnover in the Group’s history, with total sales amounting to €9,845 million (AU$15,678.32 million). Compared to the previous year, revenue has increased by 9.3% and the company is expecting further sales growth in 2018.

Auckland dominates NZ skies
New Zealand’s national crane count has grown, with Auckland accounting for 66% of all cranes counted across the country’s main centres.

Walk with me
In October, Cranes and Lifting editor Greg Keane travelled to Adelaide for the annual CICA conference. While there, he invited members of the sector on a walk up Mt Lofty from Waterfall Gully. Immediate past national president of the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) Tony Baulderstone took him up on the offer and chatted to Keane about his time at the organisation. Read more

Dealing with head height restrictions
This is the first article in a regular series by Stuart Edwards of Edwards Heavy Lift on rigging matters. Stuart Edwards is well known to the industry, initially in presenting Boom Logistics and John Holland entries in the CICA Lift of the Year, before starting his own business and consulting to many of you. He was co-winner of the Innovation Award at the most recent CICA national crane conference, as well as one of the presenters at a rigging workshop there. If you have a rigging topic that you would like to see covered, please contact the editor or Stuart Edwards at stuart@edwardsheavylift.com. Read more

Adopting digital technology – a noble cause?
How many times have we heard the terms “traditional” and “conservative” used to described the lifting and rigging industry in the context of digitalisation? Far too many times. But what does it take for the sector to jump on the digital revolution band wagon and is it worth it? Jacqueline Ong finds out.

A decade of support
And just like that, Cranes and Lifting is marking a decade, okay, 11 years, of production. We wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t have the support of the sector and it is our goal to continue to contribute to the success of our readers, advertisers, and suppliers well into the next decade.
In looking back on the last 10 years, a number of early supporters, who continue to back our efforts, come to mind. Our 10th anniversary spread wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t take the time acknowledge them. Patrick Lau speaks to some of them to get their thoughts on the decade that has gone by and what they hope to see in Cranes and Lifting (CAL) moving forward. Read more

Making a mark in the wind market
Boom Logistics – supplier of integrated lifting solutions for Australian industry – has spent the last few years transforming its business to be more cost effective and flexible to meet customer demands, while also making significant inroads to becoming a major player in the country’s booming wind farm sector, writes Jan Arreza.