LGH France Marks First Year in Dreux with Lifting Equipment Open Day
30-Second Takeaway
LGH France celebrated its first year of operations in Dreux with an Open Day on 9 October 2026, welcoming approximately 50 customers, suppliers and lifting industry professionals. The event featured equipment demonstrations and technical discussions, with displays including a 125 tonne hydraulic gantry, 200 tonne multi-point lifting beams and 1,000 tonne shackles. Holmatro demonstrated skidding equipment and climbing jacks, while REID Lifting presented its PORTAGANTRY range. The anniversary highlighted the French operation’s developing rental and technical support services, backed by access to LGH’s wider European fleet.
LGH France
LGH France opened the doors of its Dreux facility to mark 12 months since its first rental order left the depot. Around 50 visitors attended the anniversary event, bringing together customers, equipment suppliers and professionals from the lifting sector.
Guests included UFL President Xavier Charpentreau and Mediaco Technical Director Robert Titart. The Open Day combined an equipment display with opportunities to meet the French team and discuss lifting applications directly with supplier representatives.
High-Capacity Rigging and Hydraulic Equipment on Display
LGH presented equipment spanning hydraulic lifting, rigging, hoisting and pulling.
The display included a 125 tonne hydraulic gantry and 200 tonne, 12 metre multi-point lifting beams, alongside 1,000 tonne shackles and a 500 tonne wireless load shackle.
Visitors could also examine L20 lifting equipment and other systems available through the company’s rental offering.
The selection demonstrated the range of equipment French customers can access for projects involving substantial loads, specialised connections and controlled load measurement.
Holmatro and REID Demonstrate Their Systems
Holmatro, represented by Sales Manager Tom Fictels, demonstrated its hydraulic skidding system and climbing jacks. The demonstrations gave visitors an opportunity to discuss methods for moving and positioning heavy equipment, including applications where available space influences the handling approach.
Walter Stolla represented REID Lifting, presenting the PORTAGANTRY range with capacities up to five tonnes. Together, the supplier demonstrations covered both heavy hydraulic handling and portable gantry lifting.
Ponticelli MEGALIFT Supports the Event
Ponticelli MEGALIFT supported the anniversary with a 50 tonne crane on site.
Its contribution complemented LGH’s lifting and rigging display, bringing mobile crane equipment into the event alongside the specialist rental systems. The gathering provided a practical setting for customers and suppliers to discuss equipment selection and how different lifting systems can be used within project plans.
French and European Teams Come Together
Koffi Ahawo, Workshop Foreman in Dreux, was joined by colleagues from the French operation and the wider LGH European team. The French representatives included Lorenzo du Burck, Sales Manager France; Sacha Faudin, Business Development Manager France; and Matthieu Auffray, Rental Desk Specialist France.
European colleagues included Cas van Ree, Head of Sales; Antonia Price, Head of Marketing; Andy Mault, CEO; and Markus Voigt, Operations Manager EU.
Ranjan Ghimire, Workshop Foreman in Antwerp, and workshop engineers Arvid van der Vloet and Arnuad Casiez also attended. Their participation brought sales, rental desk, workshop and operational expertise together for discussions with visitors.
Building Rental Support from Dreux
The anniversary marks an early milestone in LGH France’s development.
From Dreux, the business continues to build its rental and technical support capability while giving French customers access to specialist equipment from across the wider LGH European fleet. The event connected that offering with customers in person, allowing them to examine equipment and discuss its suitability for upcoming work.
About LGH France
LGH France provides specialist lifting equipment rental and technical support from its facility in Dreux.
Its offering spans hoisting, hydraulic lifting, rigging, pulling and material handling equipment. Listed product categories include hydraulic gantries, cylinders, modular spreaders, multi-point lifting beams, slings, shackles and load measurement equipment.
The French team combines local rental and workshop support with access to LGH’s European equipment resources, helping customers source systems for different lifting and handling requirements.
Official website: LGH France, Dreux
About LGH
LGH, originally known as Lifting Gear Hire, was founded by Bill Parkinson in the Manchester area in 1970.
The business developed from a UK lifting equipment hire operation into an international organisation with activities in Europe and North America. Its equipment offering ranges from manual handling tools to hydraulic lifting systems and high-capacity rigging equipment.
LGH combines rental equipment with technical advice and on-site expertise, supporting customers in selecting lifting and moving systems for project-specific requirements.
Official website: www.lgh.eu
About Holmatro
Holmatro is a hydraulic equipment and systems supplier founded in the Netherlands in 1967.
Its products serve industrial, rescue and special tactics applications worldwide. The company develops hydraulic tools and integrated solutions for tasks requiring controlled force, including industrial lifting and movement of heavy loads.
At the Dreux Open Day, its skidding system and climbing jacks demonstrated equipment used for controlled movement and incremental lifting.
Official website: www.holmatro.com
About REID Lifting
REID Lifting designs and manufactures lightweight, portable aluminium lifting systems, including gantries and davits.
Established in 1996, the company develops equipment for applications where portability, assembly and access influence the lifting solution. Its systems support the lifting of materials and, within applicable product configurations, personnel.
The PORTAGANTRY range presented at Dreux gave visitors an opportunity to examine portable lifting arrangements with capacities up to five tonnes.
Official website: www.reidlifting.com
Frequently Asked Questions
When did LGH France hold its anniversary Open Day?
The event took place on 9 October 2026 at the Dreux facility.
How many visitors attended?
Approximately 50 customers, suppliers and lifting industry professionals attended.
What high-capacity equipment was displayed?
The display included a 125 tonne hydraulic gantry, 200 tonne multi-point lifting beams, 1,000 tonne shackles and a 500 tonne wireless load shackle.
Which suppliers demonstrated equipment?
Holmatro demonstrated hydraulic skidding equipment and climbing jacks, while REID Lifting presented its PORTAGANTRY range.
What did the anniversary mark?
It marked 12 months since the first rental order left LGH’s French facility.
