News Archive | Vertikal.net

Fall, trapping and overturn fatality

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

A man died last week after falling around six metres when a scissor lift overturned at a plant in Comstock on the east side of Kalamazoo – due west of Detroit in Michigan.

The incident occurred on Thursday, morning, July 30th, at the old Shiloh Industries automotive parts manufacturing plant, which closed its doors in March.

The man was removing a steel beam from the ceiling when it shifted prematurely and unexpectedly twisted as it did so, apparently causing the lift to overturn. The man fell with the lift and struck his head on the concrete floor, but was then trapped between the overturned scissor lift and a vertical steel support beam/stanchion.

Colleagues were able to use a forklift to lift the scissor lift away in order to free him, the emergency services arrived shortly after that and confirmed that he had no pulse. They rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after arrival.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the man, who, it says, 31 was co-owner of the company commissioned to work on the closed-down facility.

Self-erector skis in

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Norwegian contractor Hent has installed a four tonne Potain HDM 40 self-erecting tower crane at the remote summit station of the Fjellheisen cable car on Fløya mountain, overlooking Tromsø in northern Norway.

The crane proposed by Potain dealer and rental company Kranor was mounted on Custom built twin tip skis and towed to the summit using one, and at times two, tracked snow groomers.

Once at the top the crane was secured to the project’s concrete foundation. It will be used for construction of a restaurant with an outdoor skywalk located below the mountain's 590 metre summit.

Scheduled for completion next year. Materials for the build, including timber sections and concrete slabs, are being delivered to the site by helicopter.

Kranor regional manager Andreas Jensen said: “The only solution was to put the crane on two large skis and pull it up Fløya mountain with the two powerful snow groomers. Getting the crane to the mountaintop was a truly unique logistics achievement.”

Based in Tromsø, Kranor operates a fleet of around 150 tower cranes, including self-erectors and flat-tops.

You can see more in the video below

Faresin goes with Haulotte Australia

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Italian telehandler manufacturer Faresin has appointed Haulotte Australia as the exclusive distributor for the construction and rental market sectors in Australia.
All models in the Faresin range are included, from compact electrics to heavy duty, high capacity models.

Haulotte Australia was established in 1999, and was the company’s first subsidiary outside of Europe and has been one of its most consistent ever since. It is based in Dandenong South near Melbourne in Victoria, with further locations near Sydney in NSW, Brisbane in Queensland and Perth in Western Australia. It also has a facility near Hamilton in New Zealand.

A combined statement from the two companies said: “The distribution agreement brings the complementary strengths of Faresin's engineering and innovation in telehandler design and Haulotte’s established presence in the Australian rental market, including its distribution and product support infrastructure, to provide comprehensive support for Faresin telehandlers across the entire region.”

Faresin vice president Giulia Faresin said: "We are thrilled to collaborate with Haulotte, a company that shares our vision for innovation and quality. By joining forces, we will ensure customers receive cutting edge solutions backed by excellence in after sales service."

Haulotte Australia's general manager, Keith Clarke added: "Faresin is a quality brand and integrates perfectly into the Haulotte range. We have received exceptional support from the Task Force at the Faresin factory, and our team is truly excited to seize this new opportunity to expand our product portfolio, as well as to guarantee support to all customers who already own a Faresin telehandler."

"We can't wait to serve the telehandler market again with innovative quality products that integrate seamlessly with the rest of our range."

Vertikal Comment

This looks like an excellent deal for both companies, Haulotte Australia gets back into the telehandler market following a six year hiatus, with a first rate product, including some state of the art all electric models.

Faresin benefits from a very successful and well established national distributor that likes to sell telehandlers alongside its aerial work platforms, and which is also more than capable of providing a decent product support function for the Italian manufacturer.

What is a little surprising is that Haulotte is not looking to ‘badge’ the Faresin telehandlers as Haulotte - as Zeppelin has done in Germany. Possibly a sensible move when you look at their previous history of working together.

A bit of history
This is not the first time that Haulotte and Faresin have worked together. In late 2002 they actually formed a Joint Venture together to produce telehandlers See: Haulotte and Faresin Joint Venture.
The venture never really got off the ground, and acrimony appeared to creep in within a couple of years or so, when it was not as successful as the two parties had hoped.

It struggled on until 2006, leaving Haulotte without a product until its new plants in Spain and Romania began production in 2007.
As to when Haulotte quit the telehandler market it’s hard to say, as it really just fizzled out gradually after 2019 as inventory was sold off, and it was still selling its telehandlers as recently as 2021. Haulotte Australia, however, pulled out of the market in 2019, which is roughly when Haulotte production came to a halt.

Strong first half at Manitowoc

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Manitowoc Crane - Grove, Potain, National Crane and Manitowoc - has reported a strong improvement in first half sales and profits.

Year To Date
Total revenues for the six months to the end of June increased eight percent over the same period last year to $1.09 billion. With growth in both new equipment sales and services revenue.

Order Intake for the six months was almost 28 percent higher than last year at $1.35 billion, leaving the backlog/Order book at the end of June at $1.05 billion, up 44 percent on this time last year.

Pre-tax profit for the six months was $12.1 million compared to last year's loss of $7.5 million. This due to higher sales volumes, improved product mix, and tight control on costs.

Second Quarter

Revenues for the three months to the end of June increased 10.3 percent to $594.9 million, while non-new equipment sales were 6.6 percent higher at $172.2 million.
Order intake was the star of the show, leaping 56.1 percent to $708.7 million, as was pre-tax profit, which came in at $7.2 million compared to a $200,000 loss in the same period last year.

Full year Outlook
On the basis of the strong first half and order intake in the second quarter, the company has increased its full year revenue forecasts to a range of between $2.3 and $2.4 billion, which equates to a three to seven percent increase over 2025, while tariff refunds should boost the bottom line by around $16 million.

Chief executive Aaron Ravenscroft said:“Our second quarter results exceeded our expectations. Net sales increased 10% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA grew 86 percent. Customer sentiment remained positive, as strong quoting activity translated into higher order intake across our business. I am extremely pleased with the team’s performance and the continued momentum in non-new machine sales.”

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on executing our CRANES+50 strategy and continue to see opportunities for growth. While the market environment remains dynamic, we believe our disciplined approach, strong customer relationships, and strategic initiatives position Manitowoc well for the remainder of 2026.”

Vertikal Comment

What a positive first half year, it looks as though all the efforts made by the management team and employees to turn the company around over the past few years and build a strong base really are beginning to pay off now. There's still much to be done, but this is a really good sign that the corner has been turned, and we won’t slip back next quarter as we have sometimes seen in the past.

Signs are that the company is also gaining some decent upward momentum, while gaining an underlying stability from the less cyclical services business, led by MGX.

It would not surprise me to see the company beat the new higher top end projections, assuming a half-decent third quarter, of course.

250 tonner for Dewsbury & Proud

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

UK crane rental company Dewsbury & Proud has taken delivery of a 250 tonne Grove GMK5250XL-1 All Terrain crane.

The five axle GMK5250XL-1 features a 78.5 metre eight section main boom plus a 17.8 metre bi-fold swingaway extension that can be extended to 33.8 metres with additional inserts, offering a maximum tip height of 109 metres. With the maximum 80 tonnes of counterweight, the crane can handle 9.9 tonnes on the fully extended main boom at a radius of up to 22 metres.

The company said: “Investing in the future, one machine at a time. The arrival of our new Grove GMK5250XL-1 represents another step in our ongoing commitment to maintaining a modern, reliable fleet, ensuring we continue to deliver the highest standards of service to our customers.”

The company was founded in 1977, by Anthony Proud and Jeremy Dewsbury, and is based in Wolverhampton, with depots in Loughborough, Coventry and Stoke-On-Trent. It runs more than 50 cranes in its fleet, supported by a team of 80 staff. Last year, it acquired Ellis Crane Hire, possibly making it the seventh largest crane rental company in the UK.

Note: We are currently preparing the forms for the 2026 Leading UK & Ireland rental fleets - make sure you are part if it!

GMV appoints Pick & Place

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Danish material handling and glass lifting equipment manufacturer GMV, which sells its products under the Winlet, ErgoMover and Handling brands, has appointed Pick & Place (P&P) Lifting Equipment as its official distributor for Canada.

Based in Vancouver, Pick & Place Lifting Equipment - part of Sentinel Glass - supplies glass lifting equipment including vacuum lifters and glazing robots for shop fronts, curtain walling and oversized panels. In addition to selling and renting GMV's Winlet glazing robots, ErgoMover electric transport trolleys and Lasius compact pick & carry cranes, it offers a full line of vacuum lifting rigs and counterbalance beams.

The company has already received its first Winlet 600 600kg glazing robot, with a second one on order along with a tracked one tonne Winlet 1000 glazing robot and says it has already made its first sale.

GMV export manager, Henrik Skibsted said: “Canada is an important market with a strong glazing and construction industry, and we see a clear fit between the needs of local contractors and the solutions we manufacture in Denmark. With Pick & Place Lifting Equipment and Sentinel Glass, we will be working with a partner that understands the practical challenges on site and the value of safe, efficient and precise material handling.”

P&P Lifting is based in Greater Vancouver, but carries out project work throughout British Columbia, while shipping its equipment to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec.

Established in 1988, GMV is based in Bredsten between Vejle and Billund on Jutland, with a team of 40 employees.

Four XCMG ATs for Sarens

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Belgian international crane and heavy lift company Sarens has taken delivery of four XCMG All Terrain cranes - three 250 tonne XCA250G7-1E’s and a 130 tonne XCA130_E.

The five axle XCA250G7-1E follows on from the initial 'test' unit purchased at Bauma last year. It features a seven section 76 metre main boom topped by a 10 to 17 metre swingaway extension with up to 40 degrees of offset. While two eight metre and one 12 metre lattice extensions can be added to achieve a maximum tip height of 124.5 metres. Maximum counterweight is 80 tonnes.

The crane has an overall stowed width of three metres and an overall length of 16.24 metres. It is rated at 2.5 metres and can handle 137 tonnes at three metres. Capacity on the full boom is 11.5 tonnes.

The five axle XCA130_E features a six section 62 metre main boom topped by an 11 to 18.5 metre swingaway extension to which two seven metre extensions can be added to achieve a maximum tip height of 98.5 metres. Maximum counterweight is 44.5 tonnes.

The 130 tonner has an overall stowed width of 2.75 metres and an overall length of 15.29 metres, is rated at three metres, while capacity on the full boom is 11.8 tonnes.

Based in Belgium, Sarens can trace its roots back to the early 20th century, when Frans Sarens began working with forestry companies, including timber transport with horse and cart in Flanders. Sarens De Coster was incorporated on the 2nd of September 1955, marking the formal establishment of the business.

Sarens has grown from a family run operation to a multinational group with over 70 locations and 6,000 employees worldwide, but remains a 100 percent family owned business.

VDL appoints Armorum

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Dutch manufacturer VDL Energy Systems has appointed tower crane and generator rental company Armorum as its official distributor in Ireland.

VDL produces battery based site power systems that effectively obsolete the big on-site generators that typically power tower cranes, hoists and mastclimbers. They can usually be topped up via a regular power outlet or a small generator.

Armorum said: “VDL’s Battery Energy Storage Systems have been recognised as industry leading, combining advanced engineering, flexibility and innovation to support a wide range of power applications.”

Founded in 1983, Armorum is based in Ballyfermot, west Dublin, and a subsidiary of the Crane Hire group founded in 1967. The company is also Ireland's official distributor for Liebherr tower cranes and engines as well as Potentia generators.

VDL Energy Systems is based in Almelo, Overijssel, eastern Netherlands and is a subsidiary of VDL Groep, which was established in 1953 and employs 15,000 people across 19 countries, operating within various sectors including science, technology, health, mobility, food, energy and sustainability.

A first for RMP

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Irish rental company RMP hire has taken delivery of the first 20 metre Almacrawler B2190-A spider lift to arrive in the country, along with six 26ft Zoomlion ZS0808ACLI slab electric scissor lifts. All of which were supplied by local distributor Inspectec.

The B2190-A - launched at GIS last year - has a working height of 20.4 metres and a maximum outreach of 9.8 metres at an up & over height of 8.8 metres with its maximum platform capacity of 220kg. The overall width is 855mm, stowed length 5.1 metres, and height 1.99 metres. Total weight is 2,950kg.

The ZS0808ACLI provides a working height of 10 metres, with a maximum platform capacity of 230kg. It has an overall width of 810mm, overall length of 2.3 metres and a stowed height of 1.26 metres, although the guardrails fold to a height of 1.9 metres. Total weight is 2090kg.

Inspectec director Dan Daly said: “We wish Ray and his team every success with the new additions to their substantial fleet of Zoomlion’s and growing Almacrawler fleet.”

Based to the North of Dublin, RMP was established more than 20 years ago and runs boom lifts from Genie, Zoomlion and Snorkel, as well as scissors and mast type lifts from Skyjack and Snorkel, alongside earthmoving and power tool rental.

Another shocker

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

A man is fighting for his life in hopsital after surviving an electrical shock and a six metre fall in the Tlaquepaque suburb of Guadalajara in central Mexico on Tuesday.

The man in his early 20s, a service engineer, was apparently testing the machine, a 48ft Runshare articulated boom lift, in the yard of a general rental company, when he took the platform too close to the overhead power lines that crisscross the front of the yard.

He was apparently also ejected from the platform and fell around five to six metres to the ground. He was rushed to hospital with serious burns and remains in critical condition.

Vertikal Comment

Another day, another overhead power line incident! As we have said many times before, it is about time manufacturers and employers etc... became more aware of the risks and look at technical solutions that might help. The managers of this company should have been fully aware of the power lines overhead and the risks they pose to those operating machinery in the yard.

This could be one of the worst years on record for such incidents.

IPAF's FREE guidance publications

IPAF, the International Powered Access Federation, publish some good guidance on this subject in most of the major languages. It is free to download at www.ipaf.org/en-gb/resource-library/safe-use-mewps-vicinity-power-lines for the English version or go to the home page for other languages.

Another 135ft Genie for Ausdirect

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Australian rental company Ausdirect has taken delivery of a 135ft Genie SX-135 XC telescopic boom lift, the second 135ft Genie in its fleet.

The lift features a three section boom topped by a telescopic articulating jib for a working height of up to 43 metres. The maximum outreach is 27.4 metres with the 300kg unrestricted platform capacity, while the maximum capacity of 454kg is only available at almost 24 metres with the articulated jib fully retracted. The chassis mini-X chassis has an overall operating width of 3.94 metres and a transport width of 2.48 metres, while the jib tucks under for transport. The new lift joins a 135ft Genie ZX-135/70 articulated boom added in January.

Ausdirect managing director, Damien Connolly said: “July has been an incredibly busy month for us, between moving premises, welcoming awesome new members into the team and taking delivery of loads of new equipment, including our third ultra boom of 2026, the Genie SX-135. A huge thank you to all our valued customers and staff for making all this possible.”

Founded in 2018, Ausdirect is based in Brisbane, and runs a fleet of telehandlers, scissor lifts, forklifts, boom and trailer lifts, along with spider and mast booms. See also: 60 platforms for Ausdirect

Crane overturn in UK

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Just over a week ago, we received photographs and basic information on a crane overturn on the site of a new data centre in Farnborough, southern England. In spite of our best efforts we have been unable to unearth more solid and reliable details of what might have been the cause.

The crane, a three axle Grove GMK 3055 is owned, we are told, by Ridge Lifting Solutions, sister company to Ridgewell Structures, which designed and manufactured all of the steelwork.
The crane was rigged with its full counterweight and outriggers properly set with mats of a decent size, while the five section boom was fully extended and fully elevated and the superstructure slewed over the front as if preparing to close up for road travel.

What caused the crane to overturn is not at all clear, it would certainly have been back-heavy in this configuration, but not as significantly as if the boom had been fully retracted. But it is possible that strong winds were a factor, in which case the fully extended boom would have acted like a sail.

When the crane went over the structure took most of the impact, although a Genie boom from the Summit fleet, which was left with its boom extended, also struck. We understand no one was hurt in the incident.

We have contacted Ellis Ridgewell, who owns both companies, for a comment, offering to publish a statement, but while he has acknowledged our messages, he has chosen not to respond. Ridgewell has been working with Datum data centres on at least two new data centres in the Farnborough area and appears to be a professional and well-organised business.

Vertikal Comment

The main point of this item is to try and state the facts as best we can, if for no other reason to help curb some of the wilder theories that are typically generated on social media channels.

But more importantly, to restress the dangers of rearward stability on certain types of cranes, telehandlers and boom lifts. Everyone typically thinks about forward stability, when rearward stability typically carries higher risks.

Potain Power Solutions

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Manitowoc has launched ‘Potain Power Solutions’, a new range of energy storage systems for tower cranes.

The company says the product aims to reduce reliance on diesel generators and can be used on sites with limited or unstable power supplies, including remote projects and urban job sites where low noise and emissions are required.

The systems are designed to handle tower crane duty cycles and peak power demands, helping maintain performance without power drop offs or interruptions. Potain says they can also stabilise the power supply and provide back-up power to protect the crane’s electronics during outages.

Output options include 135 and 270 kVA plus larger units above 375 kVA. Though the units are specifically designed to work with Potain tower cranes, they can, of course, also power other equipment on site.

They use liquid cooling to keep the batteries working in hot and humid conditions, and can be moved easily by forklift.

Product development manager Robin Chen said: “Potain Power Solutions help tower crane owners move toward smarter, more independent construction sites by maintaining peak productivity regardless of local infrastructure gaps. By drastically reducing the reliance on diesel generators, they also lower daily operating costs and help users meet their sustainability targets.”

The company claims to have seen fuel use reduced by up to 70 percent, compared with diesel generators, and in full electric mode the generator can be removed completely for quieter, zero emission operation.

SK1265-AT6's for UK

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Spierings has delivered two SK1265-AT6 eLift self-erecting mobile tower cranes to two crane rental companies in the UK: Davies Crane Hire and City Lifting.

The six axle SK1265-AT6 eLift has a maximum capacity of 10 tonnes at a radius of more than 13 metres, while the 60 metre jib has a 1,700kg jib tip capacity at a 35 metre horizontal jib height. Maximum lift height is 64.2 metres with the jib luffed to 30 degrees.

The eLift system allows the crane to plug into a wide range of mains power outlets ranging from 11 to 25 or 32Amp, with the available power passing through a Lithium-ion battery ‘PowerPack’ which absorbs the peaks in energy draw-down from the crane, allowing the connection to regular domestic outlets without sacrificing performance. When the power demand from the crane is low, the battery pack is recharged. The crane is also equipped with a small diesel engine which generates the electrical power when a mains outlet is not available.

Established in 1981, City Lifting is based in Essex on the East side of London, and runs a fleet of around 60 All Terrains, 20 mini crawlers and spider cranes and a fleet of around 150 tower cranes. This is City Lifting's second SK1265-AT6 eLift in recent months, following on from another unit delivered in June.

Founded in 1979, Davies Crane Hire runs a fleet of mobile and crawler cranes with capacities ranging from eight tonnes, to a recently purchased 700 tonner ordered as part of its 45 year anniversary celebrations. It operates from four locations in Carmarthen, Port Talbot, Milford Haven, and Cardiff and is one of the largest crane rental companies in Wales.

700th Moog

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

German underbridge inspection platform manufacturer Moog has built and delivered its 700th underbridge inspection platform.

Serial number 700 is an MBI 110, which was purchased, along with an MBL 1750, by long standing customer Wemo-Tec.

The MBI 110 can reach 7.1 metres below the bridge deck and extend horizontally by up to 11 metres - or 13 metres with the two metre extension. The 1.2 metre wide platform has a maximum capacity of 500kg/ The unit takes up just 2.5 metres of bridge lane and has an overall weight of 18 tonnes.

The larger MBL 1750 can reach 21 metres below deck and up to 17.5 metres horizontally from the same space as the smaller unit, but the all-up weight is 32 tonnes.

Moog was founded in 1980 by Alfons Moog, who died in August 2006 in a tragic accident with one of his platforms in France. His wife, Rita took over the management of the business, before handing over to Christine Moog-Ganzenmüller, one of the couple's three daughters.

Moog celebrated the delivery of its 400th unit in 2008, and while the first 400 units took 28 years to produce, it has taken just 18 years to build and sell the subsequent 300.

Wemo-Tec purchased its first Moog platform over 40 years ago and has been a regular customer ever since. It is based in Eichenzell, northeast of Frankfurt near Fulda.

Christine Moog said: “We are particularly pleased that this anniversary machine is going to our long-standing customer Wemo-Tec. Our companies have enjoyed a trusting partnership for over 40 years, which we are very proud of.”

"Such milestones are far more than just a number. They represent trust, shared successes, and partnerships that have grown over decades.”

C&A mailings to Iran

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

A note to our Cranes & Access printed copy subscribers based in Iran.

A large number of copies of the June issue were returned to our office today, with stickers from the Royal Mail stating ‘Service Suspended’. We assume we will see the same for the July/August issue?

We naturally have no control over this, but for those of you who have paid – the majority of you– we will freeze mailings until we can be sure they will reach you and will extend your subscriptions by the number of copies missed.

In the meantime, we have been assured that the digital versions are still accessible.

Thank you for your patience.

Tower cranes in the Amazon

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Four five tonne Liebherr 85 EC-B tower cranes have been deployed at the Amazon FACE (Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) research site near Manaus, Brazil, to lift researchers and scientific equipment 45 metres above the rainforest canopy to carry out scientific experiments and measurements.

The cranes are being used to access an intact area of old growth forest where scientists are exposing part of the rainforest to carbon dioxide concentrations projected for future decades, allowing them to monitor real time changes in the canopy, soils, biodiversity and carbon uptake. AmazonFACE says it chose tower cranes because each tower has a small footprint while still providing horizontal reach across the plots, reducing soil disturbance.

Bruno Takeshi, AmazonFACE operations lead, said: “Some phenomena that occurred very rarely began to be very frequent. The entire climate of the region started to become very abnormal.”

Liebherr application engineer, Bruna Prisco added: “The four 85 EC-B 5 tower cranes were chosen precisely because they can withstand the extremes of heat and humidity and not disturb the habitat.”

The video below provides more insight into the AmazonFACE programme

Two Liebherrs for Southern

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

UK rental company Southern Cranes & Access has taken delivery of two Liebherr All Terrain cranes, a 150 tonne LTM 1150-5.3 and a 300 tonne LTM 1300-6.4.

The six axle LTM 1300-6.4 - updated in May 2024 - features an eight section, 90 metre main boom topped by an 11.5 to 20 metre bi-fold swingaway extension, to which two seven metre inserts can be added between the boom nose and swingaway for a tip height of 121 metres. Other features include the Variobase Plus outrigger setup system, which offers a wider, more variable rear outrigger spread - up to 9.4 metres - as well as AutoBallast.

The five axle LTM 1150-5.3 is equipped with a 66 metre, seven section main boom along with the 10.8 to 19 metre bi-fold swingaway extension that offsets hydraulically by up to 40 degrees. A seven metre insert can be added between the boom nose and extension to take the maximum tip height to almost 95 metres and maximum radius to 72 metres. The crane has already worked on a project in London, assisting with a ‘pin drop’ installation for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations alongside the River Thames.

Southern Cranes & Access, director Kelvin Prince said: “The addition of these two Liebherr cranes represents a significant investment in the continued growth of our business. The LTM 1150-5.3 and LTM 1300-6.4 give us greater capacity, reach and versatility, enabling us to meet the increasingly complex requirements of our customers across London and the south of England.”

Established in 1997, family run Southern Cranes & Access is based in Horsham, south of London and covers a large area around London and the southeast with a fleet that includes All Terrain, mobile self-erecting tower and spider cranes as well as aerial work platforms and telehandlers - both fixed frame and 360 degree models.

CTE quartet for AFI

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

UK aerial lift rental company AFI rentals has ordered four 21 metre CTE ZED 21.3 JHV articulated truck mounted platforms.

Mounted on a 3.5 tonne Iveco chassis, the ZED 21.3 JHV features a dual sigma type riser topped by a two section telescopic boom and articulated jib. It has a maximum outreach of 10 metres with 100kg in the 1.4 metre by 700mm basket, and a maximum working height of 21 metres with the maximum platform capacity of 300kg.

CTE UK general manager, James Bunting said: “I would like to thank Pete Wajner for considering us to help expand their hire fleet. This was a tight delivery window, but our staff managed to process the machines in record time.”

“The Z21.3 range is one of our most recognised machines and has been extremely popular with both hire companies and end users since its conception. While the perfect machine may not exist, the Z21.3 is a good all-round product for most applications.”

AFI's managing director specialist rentals Peter Wajner added: “Thanks to Jamie Kirsopp and Matthew Dean for helping us collect two of our four new CTE ZED21JHV’s this week. The four machines will go straight into our Wilson Division to support the growth of that business.”

Based in Wakefield, Yorkshire, AFI operates from 20 locations across the UK and six in the Middle East, with a combined rental fleet of 6,000 units. The company's UK fleet is now said to be 70 percent electric/hybrid. It is also an IPAF training provider.

Solid first half for Herc

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

US based Herc Rentals has published its first half results, with substantially higher revenues and a dramatic improvement in profitability.

First half

Total revenues for the six months to the end of June were almost 26% higher than this time last year at $2.34 billion, thanks to higher rental revenues, with a small improvement in used equipment sales and services.

Pre-tax profit
Last year’s $54 million loss was converted into a $1 million profit this year, mostly due to the absence of major transaction costs that were incurred last year with the H&E acquisition and no write-downs, compared to $49 million last year.

Capital expenditure on rental equipment was 25% higher at $527 million. The average age of the fleet remained the same at 46 months.

Net debt at the end of June was cut by 1.7% to $7.88 billion.

Second Quarter

Total revenues came in at $1.20 billion, a 20% jump on the same quarter last year, thanks to the H&E Equipment acquisition. While last year’s pre-tax loss of $46 million was converted into a $24 million profit, due to the points mentioned for the first half.

Full year forecast
The company has raised its full year forecasts for rental revenues to $4.37 -$4.48 billion, which would represent an increase of 15 to 25% increase over 2025. Full year capital expenditure has been increased to $1.25 to $1.4 billion.

Chief executive Larry Silber said: “After successfully completing the H&E integration in the first quarter, the second quarter marked an important turning point for Herc Rentals, with our key metrics improving both sequentially and year over year.”

“Revenue and cost synergies are tracking to plan. And while fuel inflation was a headwind in the quarter, we are taking additional action to mitigate its impact. Importantly, disciplined fleet management drove positive fleet efficiency, supported by increased rental activity.”

“Our growth continues to be led by national accounts, fuelled by robust mega project activity and a higher mix of speciality equipment rentals. The H&E acquisition was well timed, adding the scale, fleet capacity, talent and branch density to expand our role on large, complex projects and capture a greater share of this accelerating demand.”

“The momentum across multiyear projects gives us strong line of sight into the second half of the year. To support this expanding pipeline, we are raising our full-year financial guidance and increasing net fleet capital expenditures to serve customer demand.”

Vertikal Comment

This is certainly a better result from Herc, although it remains very, very thin, not helped by the massive debt burden.

However, the signs are all there that it is on a positive trajectory and there are plenty of efficiencies and synergies to go after as the integration progresses. So, with a stable year or two for the North American economies, it ought to be in good shape by 2028.

A big step in the right direction.

Positive first half for Manitou

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

French telehandler and aerial work platform manufacturer Manitou, has published its first-half results with higher revenues and profit, and a solid pick up in order intake.

Year to Date:

Total revenues for the six months until the end of June were €1.43 billion an increase of 12% over the same point last year. Order intake also improved, rising 15.3% to €1.18 billion, nudging the backlog/ order book up 4.9% to €1.09 billion.

Pre-tax profit jumped 49.5% to €78.5 million thanks to lower interest costs and substantially lower write downs/write offs, combined with improved operating margins.

Net debt was reduced again, this time by 8.3% to €224 million.

Sales by division:
New equipment sales €1.21 billion +13.5%
Spare Parts €173 million +2.3%
Services €44 +3.7%
Total Revenues €1.43 billion +12%

Sales by region:
Europe €1.2 billion +16.5%
North America €240 million (-8.4%)
S. America and rest of world €154 million (-8.8%)
Total Revenues €1.275 billion (-9.4.4%)

Second Quarter:
Total revenues €780 million +15.6%

Order intake in the quarter was €550 million up 22.5% on the same quarter last year, leaving the order book at the end of the quarter 4.9% higher at €1.09 billion.

Full year forecast: The company is now forecasting revenue growth for 2026 of between 6.5% and 8.0%, which translates to total revenues of €2.73 and €2.76 billion.

Chief executive Sylvain Blaise, who took over in June, said: “Our business activity in the first half of 2026 demonstrates remarkable momentum, with revenue up 12.0%. This acceleration was confirmed in the second quarter with robust growth of +15.6%.”

"In a complex global environment, Europe established itself as our primary growth driver (+16.6%), driven by the rental and agricultural sectors. Despite headwinds in North America due to tariffs and a Latin America region impacted by Asian competition and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, our fundamentals remain strong.”

Vertikal Comment

This is an incredible result from Manitou, at a time when many of its competitors are struggling with margins and profitability.

The company does seem to be on a strong upward trend now, landing some substantial new business in Europe while controlling operating and material cost increases, and yet still investing more in forward-looking areas such as Research & Development.

Having started out early, with some new technology and product developments, such as all electric or hybrid booms and telehandlers, it has, at times, been slow to bring them to market.

Those new products and developments are now making an impact, it seems, as are improvements and expansion of its distribution network.

Very encouraging news to start the month.

Gantic Sweden and Hoeflon

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Hoeflon has appointed Gantic Sverige as the official distributor for its full product range in Sweden.

Based in Örebro, the company also distributes Imer spider and scissor lifts, Zoomlion scissor lifts, and a range of woodchippers and safety equipment. Gantic Sverige is a recently established subsidiary of Norwegian distribution company Gantic, which was established by Tommy Jørgensen in 1992 to sell Niftylift boom lifts.

Today, it also distributes Zoomlion scissors, booms, telehandlers and mini excavators, Hoeflon cranes and tracked carriers and Klubb van and truck mounts, along with a range of TunnelLifter boom lifts.

Hoeflon sales manager Scandinavia, Arjan van der Hoef said: “From time to time, we reassess our strategy to ensure maximum performance in different countries. Experience shows that our customers benefit from professional service and a streamlined parts supply. In Norway, Gantic has demonstrated for many years that they understand what our customers need. They have successfully strengthened Hoeflon’s position in the Norwegian market, and with their new company in Sweden, they will fully support both our existing customers and new Hoeflon users.”

Gantic has also appointed Richard Beiron to run the Swedish operation as a sales and marketing representative, with a stake in the local business. He joined the company in February, having worked since 2021 at Sotefjord Investment group, which he co-founded with a group of friends in 2021, and in which he retains an interest.

He began his career in 2005 as a salesman with excavator manufacturer Abelco, moving after three years to a similar role at Caterpillar dealer Pon. In 2010, he was appointed to the Kranlyft sales and marketing team. In 2022, he moved to aerial lift distributor Liftexperten - part of the Hybeko group - selling Genie and Leguan lifts, leaving after six months for ScandKran where he became involved with Hoeflon, Palazzani, Hyrax, Palazzani and Böcker, leaving after seven month to focus on his consulting and investment business.

Gantic chief executive, Tommy Jørgensen added: “We have enjoyed a smooth and positive cooperation with Hoeflon for many years. We know what we are taking on and cannot wait to convince Sweden of our commitment to outstanding service."

T H White adds Sany marine

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

UK distributor T H White is to add Sany reach stackers, empty container handlers, and heavy duty forklifts to its product range and has appointed Lewis Morgan to oversee the operation as sales manager.

In January, T H White was appointed as a Sany construction machinery dealer in parts of Southwest England and the West Midlands. The two parties have now agreed to add sales, service and replacement parts support for Sany container handling equipment throughout the territory from its facilities in Stourport and Marlborough.

Lewis Morgan has been appointed as sales manager - material handlers and port machinery. He joins the company after almost 10 years with Fitzgerald Rail & Construction Equipment, where he was business development manager for the past two years, having started as a service engineer in 2016, then service coordinator and service manager. He began his career in 2007 as a service engineer with road rail equipment supplier TXM Plant, leaving after five years for a similar role at material handling equipment manufacturer Fuchs.

In 2015, he joined the Contractor Keltbray as a field service engineer, moving after 18 months to Sennebogen material handling equipment dealer Molson Equipment, leaving for Fitzgeralds towards the end of 2016.

Chief executive Alexander Scott said: "This is another exciting milestone in our growing partnership with Sany that significantly strengthens the solutions we can offer customers across the Midlands and the South. The addition of material handlers and port machinery complements our existing product range and extends our reach into new sectors."

Sany UK managing director, Simon Zhu added: "T H White is a highly respected name within the industries we serve, and we are delighted to welcome them as the distributor for Sany's material handlers and port machinery products. Their strong customer focus, extensive geographic coverage and commitment to aftersales align perfectly with our own values.”

T H White Construction also handles Manitou telehandlers and platforms, Mecalac compaction and New Holland construction equipment, while the company’s loader crane division trades as Palfinger UK.

Meyer returns to Teupen

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Teupen has reappointed Jens Meyer as regional sales manager for northern Germany. He returns from Sahalift, where for the past 18 months he was an area sales manager.

Meyer first joined Teupen in 2002 as regional sales manager and remained with the company until leaving in 2024 for a new challenge with Sahalift. He has now chosen to return to Teupen and his original position.

Meyer said: “I am very much looking forward to my return to Teupen and to personally serving many well known customers and business partners again. At the same time, I would like to establish new contacts and further strengthen the market position of Teupen in northern and eastern Germany.”