World Crane and Transport Summit starts tomorrow

The 2014 World Crane and Transport Summit starts tomorrow at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami, USA. More than 250 attendees are registered for the two day conference and gala dinner. It is supported by top crane associations SC&RA, ESTA, Sindipesa and CICA, together with many of their members.

The event attracts leading crane and transport professionals from around the world and offers attendees the chance to meet industry peers and other experts to discuss and learn about important topics affecting the industry. Sharing and comparing experience among leading industry peers in the unique environment created at this event can bring real reward in operating a safer and more efficient business.

The programme this year begins with a welcome from Alex Dahm, editor, International Cranes and Specialized Transport, followed by a keynote address from Alan Barnhart, CEO, Barnhart Crane & Rigging.

The first session of the event is a focus on safety and technology. Experienced crane accident analyst Jim Wiethorn, Haag Engineering principal engineer and chairman, starts the day with a report on Haag Engineering’s study of more than 800 crane accidents over 28 years, as it relates to any correlation between age of the crane and causation of accidents.

Next is a presentation from Bill Stramer, Link-Belt vice president, marketing, sales and customer support. Stramer will review the options open to crane owners and users in exploiting the latest telematics systems. Continuing with safety, Captain Brent Wise, Tech Safety Lines co-founder, will look at the rescue training and fall protection gear that you should be providing for staff and clients. Bill Smith, NBIS executive vice president, claims and risk, will look at changes to crane rules and what you need to know.

The World Crane and Transport Summit networking dinner will be held on the evening of Wednesday 12 November in the Biltmore Hotel.

Worldwide trends
The second day of speakers starts with a project report from Fagioli Group. A highlight of the day will be a joint presentation made by Rüdiger Zollondz, Terex Cranes director, product marketing, and Bernd Schwengsbier, TII Sales (Kamag, Nicolas, Scheuerle) managing director. They will discuss the impact of trends in the oil and gas sector on the crane and transport industry.

Gary McArdle, Rouse Services executive vice president, will then look at current worldwide crane industry trends, including used crane values by category, OEM sales trends, and end market reviews, including infrastructure and energy markets.

After morning coffee, Scott Bragg, Bragg Companies vice president, will follow with a discussion on California’s business environment for cranes and heavy equipment, including environmental compliance, the tax structure, permitting with public agencies, and the litigious HR environment. David Rodrigues, Makro Engenharia CEO, will then offer a view from Brazil, and discuss how to maintain a safety culture in a fast growing crane and transport company.

Operator certification is next in the line of topics, as Graham Brent, executive director, National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators will look at the attitudes to safety, training and best practices in the USA.

Energy experts
After lunch, the event launches into the third session, Energy and Oil & Gas. Speakers include Scott Hazelton, director, IHS Global Insight Construction and Manufacturing Industries Practice, who will report on new research into the impact on construction equipment and cranes on the growth in gas shale energy exploration in North America, plus the latest forecasts on the return of the non-residential construction sector.

After that is a round-table discussion on lifting and transport in the oil and gas sector, with participants including Keith Anderson, Bechtel chief rigging engineer; Joseph Collins, Becht Engineering heavy lift manager; and Frank Bardonaro, Maxim Crane Company president.

The final presentations of the day will be from Ted Redmond, NCSG Crane Rental & Heavy Haul Services CEO, who will discuss how crane rental companies can address the growing market for lifting and transport services in the fast growing energy market. Rodney Rather, ALE vice president, will conclude the event with a spectacular report on a world record load-out project, including the use of a high capacity modular ballast system and 3D barge monitoring.

Sponsors for the event include Terex (gold sponsor) and Manitowoc (silver sponsor). Supporting sponsors include A1A Software, Goldhofer, ITI (Industrial Training International), LSI Robway, Modulift, Tii Sales (Scheuerle, Nicolas, Kamag), Tech Safety Lines.

For more information see www.khl-group.com/events/wcts/