At the time, I likened my ambition to that of Heinz-Helmut Kempkes, who said in reflection on his two-year term as president of the Fédération Européene de la Manutention (FEM), which concluded later that year: “The main intention was to bring together the industry with the same, strong interest.”

And, 12 months (or 10 issues) later, nothing has changed. Through close relationships with companies and associations alike, we’re addressing the issues most relevant to the industry as a collective unit.

It’s a common theme in the lifting business at the moment – and with good reason.

The European market, for example, must evolve as it considers its place in an industry driven by the economic – and lifting equipment – boom in China (see May issue).

It’s been a manic year, with trips to China, the States, Scandinavia, Switzerland, as well as a host of other European countries. Trade shows included Plasa (London), CeMAT Asia (Shanghai), ProMat (Chicago), as well as MHIA meetings and our own Crane Safety events.

Early next month (4-5 June, in fact), I’ll address the factory crane audience at the sixth annual Crane Safety conference, at the Grange City Hotel in London.

This year, the focus is on power, exploring the safety regimes and lifting equipment requirements of contractors in construction and maintenance of power generation and upstream and downstream oil and gas operations. Moreover, the event will also host a workshop focusing on condition monitoring and factory crane hook fatigue cracking.

I joined the company almost exactly two years ago after leaving the newspaper business and spending a year in Australia. I joined Wilmington Media as assistant editor on Hoist‘s sister publication Cranes Today.

I work on a day to day basis with former editor Will Dalrymple (now cranes group editor) and sales colleagues Mark Bridger (now group sales manager), Kate Hearn (classified advertisement manager) and Kirsty Guest, who has recently joined the team as classified sales executive.

What more could I – or any of the team – do to help raise the profile of your business?

Contact me on rhowes@wilmington.co.uk, or by tel: +44 208 269 7861, or by fax: +44 208 269 7803.


Hoist editor Richard Howes Hoist editor Richard Howes