Booms & Beyond: Event Coverage

LGH France marks one year in Dreux with an Open Day for 50 visitors, showcasing hydraulic gantries, rigging equipment and Holmatro and REID demonstrations.

Vertikal Days 2026 brought the lifting and access industry to Newark Showground on 9 and 10 September. The event featured new crane models, electric access equipment and specialist handling technology, with the organiser reporting record first-day visitor numbers.30-Second Takeaway The 19th edition of Vertikal Days took place at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire. Equipment highlights included Kobelco’s new 75 tonne TKE750GLB telescopic crawler crane and the UK’s first Lieb

APEX and the International Rental Exhibition will relocate from Maastricht to RAI Amsterdam in 2027 and move from a three year cycle to an annual schedule.

ScotPlant 2026 returned to the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh last week, bringing together a record number of exhibitors and thousands of visitors from across the construction and plant sectors. The event showcased the latest machinery, technology, and innovations shaping the future of the Scottish construction equipment industry.

The 2026 ESTA Awards of Excellence brought together the lifting and specialised transport industry’s leading companies to recognise outstanding achievements in safety, innovation, heavy lifting, transport engineering, and operator training. Held in the Netherlands, this year’s event featured a record number of entries from across Europe.

Liebherr has received two prestigious ESTA Awards of Excellence 2026, winning in both the ‘Safety’ and ‘Training’ categories. The awards recognised Liebherr’s advancements in safer crane assembly processes and its innovative “Game of Cranes” global operator competition designed to promote crane operator skills and professionalism.

LiftSmart has introduced its new CL Series compact material lifts at the ARA Show in Orlando, designed for indoor applications and restricted access environments.

MEC launches the Plus Line electric scissor lifts with eight models ranging from 19ft to 45ft, debuting at The ARA Show and ConExpo.

30-Second Takeaway The shortlists for the 2026 International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) have been confirmed following a judges’ meeting, with winners to be announced on 22 April 2026 in Istanbul. The awards attracted 130 submissions across 13 categories, highlighting innovation, safety, sustainability, and workforce development across the powered access sector.

OZ Lifting Products will exhibit at AHR Expo 2026, showcasing live product demonstrations, expert-led discussions, and the debut of a new lifting solution designed for HVACR applications.

US portable material lift manufacturer LiftSmart is marking its 15th anniversary with a product giveaway and a preview of upcoming equipment at the 2026 ARA Show in Orlando, highlighting the company’s growth from a garage-built prototype to a global supplier.

Tadano arrives at Vertikal Days with its most comprehensive exhibition lineup to date, marking the first full showcase of its expanded product portfolio following the integration of Manitex and Nagano. From rough terrain cranes and pick & carry units to aerial work platforms and articulating cranes, the manufacturer demonstrates its ambition to deliver a complete lifting and access solution under one global brand.

Franna will make its UK debut at Vertikal Days, showcasing the AT22-2 pick-and-carry crane for the first time.

More safety on the road: Liebherr wins ESTA Award in the Safety category

Manitowoc has launched the Potain MCT 2205 topless tower crane at Bauma China 2024. Built in Zhangjiagang, China, the crane features an 80 m jib, 80 t maximum capacity, compact flat-top design, and simplified transport. With strong load charts and multiple counter-jib options, the MCT 2205 targets large infrastructure, power, and mega construction projects across Asia.

The Mexican crane and heavy haulage company ESEASA has taken delivery of a new Liebherr LR 1700-1.0W. It is the first crane of this type in