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BY JACK BURTON
Hard hats in a soft market FROM THE EDITOR
About six months ago in this space, I wrote about the uncertainty surrounding the then-looming threat of tariffs and what impacts they could possibly have on Canada, its economy, and even this sector.
While my musings from a couple of issues ago focused on the lack of clear, stable information, we have an early temperature check on the results tariffs are having on the country’s economic health. Though definitely not great, the situation may just require some good old Canadian grit and patience.
Talks of an impending recession date back all the way to the clanging pots and pans that soundtracked the early days of the pandemic, but according to two economists from consulting firm Oxford Economics, it’s finally arrived up in the Great White North.
Economists Tony Stillo and Michael Davenport presented a webinar this past July titled “Trade War-Induced Downturn Underway in Canada,” where both experts shared their belief that the ongoing trade war with the United States has driven Canada into the midst of a recession.
Both pointed to indicators including a plunge in exports that began in April, alongside holds being placed on many capital expenditures by businesses. This includes, most notably, project spending in the construction sector, driven by uncertainty and high costs stemming from both tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs alike.
These conditions make for a contracted market, one that’s expected to lose as many as 140,000 jobs throughout 2025’s third and fourth quarters, according to Stillo and Davenport’s presentation.
Both also observed that many companies have put their purchasing plans for new equipment on hold in favour of retooling existing machinery in light of this diminished project support.
Beyond equipment, their insights into this recession’s impact on construction extends to the residential sector, with the sector’s multi-year downward trend to be exacerbated throughout the second half of
this year as well.
While my experience judging things by their looks mostly extends to this magazine’s photo contest – see Page 10! – I think it’s safe to say that’s not exactly pretty. Despite this serving of gloom with a healthy side of doom regarding this nation’s economy, Stillo and Davenport’s presentation did offer some pockets of optimism for the road ahead.
Firstly, while we are in a recession, neither anticipate it being a deep one, with government housing and infrastructure initiatives expected to buoy things up toward the shallower end.
The residential market’s downturn is expected to pick up significantly in the back half of the decade, according to Davenport, with a major push from governments to facilitate housing investments and thus, a steady pipeline of residential projects for the industry to benefit from.
Trade war scenarios pose a significant strain and risk for industrial and infrastructure projects, but Stillo sees promise in the medium term, thanks to federal-provincial project initiatives in the industrial, commercial and institutional segments, alongside fiscal infrastructure stimulus opening up a wave of government contracts.
It might require patience, but this continued focus on infrastructure and major projects presents a healthy amount of continued opportunities for the heavy lifting industry that ensures a consistent flow of large-scale work, recession or not.
While I don’t expect the challenges and uncertainties from this year to go anywhere soon, the significant decrease in Canadian exports that kicked off the spring was already abated by June, which saw a slight rise in exports at a 3.1 per cent increase.
We’re still far from being out of the woods – despite June’s slight uptick, exports remain down 12.5 per cent on a yearover-year basis – but still, it appears that the escape route may be in the process of being drawn up.
Jack Burton jburton@annexbusinessmedia.com
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Raimondi to acquire Terex’s tower, self-erecting and rough terrain crane divisions
Italy’s Raimondi Cranes has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Terex Tower Cranes, Terex Self-Erecting Cranes and Terex Rough Terrain Cranes, in addition to Terex’s after-sales and service infrastructure.
Approximately 250 employees will join the Raimondi Group as part of this acquisition, along with three facilities in Italy and the Terex North America Cranes service and support operation in Wilmington, NC. This combined entity will bring Raimondi’s total workforce to roughly 400 employees.
Expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, this purchase will expand Raimondi’s current tower and luffing jib crane offerings, in addition to adding new business lines such as rough terrain and self-erecting cranes to its product portfolio.
“As market leaders in their segments, Terex Tower Cranes, Terex Self-Erecting Cranes, and Terex Rough Terrain Cranes along with their US-based service hub, will enable Raimondi to take its first major step toward diversification,” said Raimondi Group CEO Luigi Maggioni. “By integrating Terex’s range of tower and rough terrain cranes, we are creating synergies that enhance our ability to deliver a broader range of lifting solutions, paving the way for sustainable, accelerated growth.”
Registration open for CONEXPO 2026
North America’s largest construction trade show, CONEXPO-CON/AGG, is now open for registration for its 2026 installment.
Luigi Maggioni, CEO of Raimondi, said that the acquisition of Terex’s lifting equipment divisions will “enable Raimondi to take its first major step toward diversification.”
The event will take place in Las Vegas from March 3 to 7 and feature more than 2,000 exhibitors and displays of products, equipment and services across 2.9 million sq. ft. of space.
In addition to the trade show component, the show will also feature education sessions on topics including safety, technology, sustainability and labour. New additions for the 2026 edition of the event include a keynote stage and workshops focused on women in construction, small business management and more.
Registration is open online, with exclusive early-bird registration rates, hotel discounts and other benefits currently active.
“Here, the world’s leading innovators unveil their latest breakthroughs, create meaningful partnerships, and shape the direction of our industry for years to come,” said show chair Eric Sauvage. “CONEXPO-CON/AGG is truly an unrivaled platform to demonstrate cutting-edge technology, engage with the brightest minds, and build enduring momentum for lasting success.”
Infrastructure bounces back in Q2 Canadian construction outlook
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) have released their Canada Construction Monitor report for Q2 of 2025, showing sharp gains in infrastructure amidst an otherwise struggling market.
A net balance of over 40 per cent of respondents from the infrastructure segment reported an increase in workload across 2025’s second quarter; the strongest quarterly gain for the segment since early 2023.
Within the infrastructure segment, the highest increase occurred in the social infrastructure sub-sector, with water and waste as well as transport also seeing notable growth.
Agribusiness was the sole infrastructure category that did not experience a rise in workloads during Q2, with its activity remaining largely flat.
Projections for Canada’s infrastructure segment were updated to reflect these gains, with the latest net balance figure coming in at 56 per cent; the highest since 2022.
While infrastructure gains suggest a positive outlook, other segments did not fare as well. Private residential indicators came out at a net balance of -34 per cent for the second quarter of the year; the weakest since the survey’s debut in late 2019.
The net balance for non-residential and commercial segments was reported at -6 per cent, which marked an improvement over the previous report’s figure of -18 per cent.
“Despite growing uncertainty in the residential and non-residential sectors and continued concern regarding the U.S. tariffs, rising material costs and continued skills shortages, infrastructure workloads saw the strongest pickup since early 2023,” said CIQS CEO Sheila Lennon.
CONEXPO returns to Las Vegas from March 3 to 7, 2026. (PHOTO: CONEXPO)
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Advancing crane mobility and safety
CCRA’s efforts on harmonization, diesel emission fluid data, and outrigger guidance.
In his book The 5AM Club , Robin Sharma says that “All change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” When it comes to the Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA)’s efforts to harmonize weights & dimensions for all-terrain cranes, it seems we’ve been lingering in the “messy in the middle” phase for some time.
As the CCRA continues to lead efforts to develop Canada’s crane industry, the harmonization of weights and dimensions for all-terrain cranes remains a massive undertaking for the association.
For decades, inconsistent provincial regulations have made it tough to efficiently move all-terrain cranes across Canada. But progress is happening: Alberta and British Columbia have already made key policy changes, and while the bridge formula research led by the University of Alberta is still in its early stages, it’s already showing that these regulatory changes are structurally sound.
The next big step is a meeting this November with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, where members of the CCRA’s Technical Committee and Weights & Dimensions Committee will present solutions to tackle some of the most restrictive regulations in the country.
National Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF) survey
In parallel with regulatory harmonization, the CCRA is currently gathering data
(L-R)
(CCRA),
through a national Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF) survey. This initiative aims to assess DEF usage patterns, engine failures and challenges across crane and truck fleets.
The survey is expected to support access across the country’s crane and heavy lifting sector to a proven quality product associated with reduced engine failure, with this product currently unavailable in Canada.
While detailed results are still being compiled, early feedback underscores the importance of DEF-handling procedures and the impact of sub-zero temperature and costly repair challenges, with the survey comprising part of the CCRA’s broader commitment to sustainability and regulatory foresight.
Global outrigger guidance
Safety remains a cornerstone of both the CCRA’s mission in Canada and as member of the International Crane Stakeholders Assembly (ICSA).
Through its membership with ICSA, the CCRA’s subject matter experts contribute to the development of quality material involving multiple SME’s from around the world. This work group has been tasked with developing an international guidance manual on unequal outrigger position.
The manual is being developed in consultation with engineers, crane operators, and safety regulators, and is expected to be released in the fall of 2026. When complete, this manual will address the best practices for stabilizing mobile cranes on diverse terrains, accounting for soil conditions, load distribution, and equipment configurations.
Eventually, the completed manual will support inspection protocols by providing a standardized framework for evaluating outrigger deployment.
Workforce and skills development
The CCRA’s commitment to workforce development continues to gain momentum through initiatives that aim to ensure the next generation sees a future in this field.
These projects include the production of a promotional video showcasing the crane industry, the development of presentation materials educating the next generation about the sector and collaborations with Snook Publishing on both a historical book and a children’s book.
Most recently, the CCRA began engaging with Skills Canada Competitions to explore the introduction of rigging into the World Skills Competition; a move that could open doors to a national rigging contest and international recognition.
The CCRA’s efforts are not just about improving operations and safety, but also reinforcing Canada’s competitiveness in the global market by harmonizing regulations, collecting critical environmental data, and standardizing safety practices.
Claire Bélanger-Pakrer
Mike Lavoie (Myshak Crane & Rigging), Justin Andrews (Tadano) and Andrew Pillman (Alberta Transportation) spoke about the CCRA’s efforts to harmonize weights and dimensions at its annual conference this past June.
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Stadium headliners
Cranes take centre stage in our 2025 photo contest. By Jack Burton
One of the privileges of being behind the editor’s chair for Crane & Hoist Canada has always been getting to see how this industry shows up for every opportunity to celebrate the talent and hard work that keep it moving forward, and this year’s photo contest is no exception.
If paper was free, our photo contest showcase would be several pages longer, as we received dozens of picture-perfect examples of the creativity and complexity across Canada’s heavy lifting sector.
I would like to extend a sincere thank you to every single organization that took the time to snap a picture of their cranes in action to submit for consideration in this year’s contest – getting to see the variety of exciting work being done across the country never fails to bring a smile to my face.
In the end, a snapshot of GUAY’s new Liebherr LR1700 duo performing upgrades to the roof of Montreal’s historic Olympic Stadium provided us with the gold medal cover. The pair of cranes reaching toward the pink and blue-hued sky is the perfect framing for showing off a project and building that is firmly planted in both GUAY and Canada’s history.
“As the photo contest grows each year, selecting the winning photo is increasingly challenging, with each submission reflecting the dedication and pride of our industry,” said contest judge Claire Bélanger-Parker, executive director of the Canadian Crane Rental Association. “We congratulate GUAY for their winning photo, sharing a very unique perspective.”
Over 50 years ago, GUAY’s team and fleet built this stadium with a capacity of over 50,000 spectators. To have the full-circle opportunity to help usher in the next half-century of the Olympic Stadium’s legacy was a privilege for the company, shared GUAY executive vice president Guillaume Gagnon.
Gagnon’s enthusiasm behind returning to a cornerstone of the company’s legacy came from the opportunity to see how much GUAY had grown – from technology to talent – in the decades since building the stadium they were now helping to repair.
“The Olympic Stadium is part of GUAY’s legacy, and this lift represented both history and innovation,” said Gagnon. “What excites us most is combining our 60 years of experience with innovative solutions designed by our technical representatives, engineers, and skilled operators to meet the unique challenges of such a landmark project.”
The roof upgrade project saw GUAY both develop and execute the required lifting methods; a collaborative process between their technical department, crane operators and site supervisor, alongside the engineering team behind the project itself.
In addition to their two new LR1700s, GUAY also used a Manitowoc MLC300, a Manitowoc 16000 and a Demag CC2800-1 to work in coordinated sequences for handling the various removals, placements and reinstallations required by the massive roof components.
“The project required extremely precise planning and execution due to its unique constraints,” said GUAY’s sales team. “The limited space on the playing field, the atypical rigging, and the geometry of the stadium mast created conflicts with the dismantling path of certain roof components.”
GUAY thanks its business development advisor Réal Lebrun, director of engineering Habib Laoubi and his team of designers, director of projects Jean-François Bouchard and his team, along with all operators, for their efforts and contributions to both this project and the client.
A LONG WAY TOGETHER
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Eagle West Crane & Rigging
Where: Mission, British Columbia
When: December 2024
About: Crews assist Eagle West’s Liebherr LTM 1220 hydraulic crane, equipped with counterweight, in hoisting tilt panels on a job site.
PHOTO: EAGLE WEST CRANE & RIGGING
Encore Trucking & Transport Ltd.
Where: Edmonton, Alberta
When: July 2025
About: Encore’s Western Star 4800SB, equipped with a Manitex 45155SHL picker, lifting and installing a floating dock system on the shores of the North Saskatchewan River at Louise McKinney park, with the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in the background.
PHOTO: ENCORE TRUCKING & TRANSPORT
Grues J.M. Francoeur
Where: Montreal, Quebec
When: August 2024
About: A 650-tonne Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 helps to erect a 90-foot tower crane base at the Port of Montreal for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Championship.
PHOTO: GRUES J.M. FRANCOEUR
Irving Equipment
Where: West Hants, Nova Scotia
When: July 2025
About: Irving’s Liebherr LTM 1400-7.1 hoisting the second tower section of a wind turbine for part of the Benjamin Mills Wind Project in West Hants Municipality, Nova Scotia.
PHOTO: IRVING EQUIPMENT
LaPrairie Crane
Where: Valleyview, Alberta
When: Early 2024
About: LaPraire put their Demag AC-200 240-ton, Grove GMK6220 275-ton and 500-ton Liebherr LTM-1440 to work as part of their replacement of the five-span Sweathouse Creek Bridge for the Alberta Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors.
PHOTO: LAPRAIRIE CRANE
Mammoet
Where: Waterloo, Ontario
When: August 2024
About: Mammoet Canada’s Eastern team used a Demag AC500 and Liebherr LTM 1650, alongside Goldhofer trailers, to complete the lift and setting of a 213-ton pedestrian bridge across Ontario’s Highway 7/8.
PHOTO: MAMMOET
TNT Crane & Rigging
Where: Edmonton, Alberta When: August 2024
About: TNT’s Liebherr 1160-5.2 and Demag AC160-2 tackled the stage and speaker tower set-up at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium over two days to prepare for a concert by Metallica.
Steelcon
Where: Toronto, Ontario When: May 2025
About: A Liebherr luffing jib tower crane installs steel beams on a rooftop in the downtown core of Toronto as part of a renovation project.
Sterling Crane
Where: Hope, British Columbia When: October 2024
About: Sterling’s LTM 1250 navigated steep climbs and descents across narrow, muddy one-way roads for a riverbank set-up 40 kilometres into the bush.
About: A Terex CTT 472-20 from Cropac Equipment works on the 81-storey, 260-metre M3 Tower; the tallest in the M City high-rise development. PHOTO: CROPAC/PREMFORM
Toronto Beyond Media
Where: Windsor, Ontario When: June 2025
About: Mammoet’s Tadano CC 38.650 crawler crane helps with dismantling one of the Comansa tower cranes that helped in building the Gordie Howe International Bridge over the last five years.
DAVIT CRANES
PHOTO: JUSTIN MCCONNELL
Best practices vs. field reality for wire rope on construction cranes
While there’s plenty of industry knowledge on crane wire rope, best practice isn’t always observed.
Across construction sites worldwide, cranes rise higher, projects move faster, and the demand for precision and safety has never been greater. Yet, the gap between wire rope best practices and what happens in the field remains stubbornly wide, and it’s costing the industry in downtime, replacement costs, and in the worst cases, safety incidents.
After decades in the lifting and rigging business, I’ve seen a consistent pattern: we have the technical knowledge to extend rope life, but we fail to apply it consistently on-site. This disconnect is especially visible when you look at how ropes are installed, tensioned, and managed over the life of a project.
The drum: Where rope health begins (and sometimes ends)
The drum is one of the most common points of rope wear on any construction crane. Multiple layers of rope wound on a drum create abrasion and crushing at crossover points, particularly when tension is inadequate.
During installation, the rope must be tensioned to five to ten per cent of its Working Load Limit (WLL) – enough to give it lateral stability and resist crushing from incoming loads.
But tensioning is not a ‘set it and forget it’ step. Over time, unused wraps lose their tension, leaving the rope vulnerable to flattening and other mechanical damages. This is where the type of crane in use can play a major role.
Tower cranes on high-rise projects are particularly prone to this issue since a long length of rope is required to outfit the crane to see it though the final stages of construction. At the beginning of a project, a large section of rope will sit unused on the lower layers of the drum for months.
Without regular re-tensioning, these idle wraps can be crushed before they ever see active service. However, re-tensioning is easier said than done, and potentially even impossible. The only solution is to use dif-
ferent rope lengths for different stages of the job.
While the upfront investment is higher and a maintenance step is added, the wire ropes will have a better chance of lasting the job or even multiple jobs, making the long-term investment worthwhile.
Mobile cranes, in contrast, typically cycle through their entire rope length more often, since they’re deployed on shorter jobs and different sites. Plus, re-tensioning is always a viable option at any time. This makes maintaining proper tension somewhat easier – but not foolproof.
Certain operations that require lifting from a height to ground level, or from ground level down a shaft and returning for the next lift with no weight, can lead to no tension on the lower layers between lifts and damage the wire rope in a single lift.
Whether on a tower crane with idle wraps or a mobile crane working at full extension, the principle is the same: rope life starts at the drum, and proper tensioning throughout its service life is non-negotiable.
The overlooked culprits: sheaves and rollers
Ask most operators about rope inspection and they’ll nod knowingly. Ask about sheave inspection, and you might get a blank stare. Yet misaligned sheaves, worn grooves, or frozen rollers can shorten rope life dramatically.
The most common problem is undersized and worn grooves, which deform the rope over time, changing its lay length and leading to visible damage like waviness or birdcaging. Sheaves must be 1 per cent larger than the rope’s maximum diameter (including tolerance) and must turn freely without wobble to avoid vibration-induced fatigue.
The takeaway is simple: Just as poor ground conditions compromise a lift, damaged or wrong-sized sheaves compromise rope life. Even the best rope, when run over a frozen or undersized groove, is destined for a much shorter working life than it was designed for.
Lubrication: The most misunderstood maintenance step
If other facets of crane rope are overlooked, lubrication is outright misunderstood. When a wire rope bends, its wires and strands slide against each other, creating internal friction. Without proper lubrication, that friction accelerates wear and drastically shortens rope life.
The problem? Many crews either neglect lubrication entirely or overapply the wrong type. Heavy coatings that sit on the surface don’t penetrate to where they’re needed, hiding damage instead of preventing it. Mixing incompatible lubricants can make matters worse.
Factory lubrication doesn’t last forever. In real-world conditions, a thin, penetrating lubricant applied every six to 12 months is essential for keeping ropes flexible, protected, and inspection-ready.
Closing the gap
Regardless of cause, the result is the same: premature rope replacement, increased downtime, and avoidable safety risks. Closing the gap between best practices and field application will require more than checklists. It demands a cultural shift – one where rope care is seen not as a maintenance chore but as an operational priority tied directly to safety, efficiency, and profitability.
The knowledge is there. The challenge – and the opportunity – lies in making sure it’s applied consistently, across every crane, on every site.
Justin Brown is the president of Unirope Limited, a Canadian company focused on the training, testing, and distribution of wire rope and rigging products. Brown holds active memberships with the AWRF and OIPEEC.
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How crane-mounted cameras add to the big picture through safety and efficiency.
By Matt Jones
Crane-mounted cameras have become much more ubiquitous in recent years. According to Active Market Research (AMR), the global crane camera market was valued at $907 million for 2025 and is expected to experience even further growth.
“Increasing demand for enhanced safety measures on construction sites and industrial operations is a major catalyst,” the report said. “The integration of advanced technologies, like AI-powered object detection and improved image quality in crane cameras, are further fueling market growth.”
The report also notes that the push to further optimize operational efficiency and reduce accidents has driven the use of crane cameras into sectors such as ports, mining and logistics. To find out more, Crane & Hoist Canada spoke with representatives from three prominent crane camera companies about their offerings.
HookCam
Virgina-based HookCam was founded in 2003, but its origins go back to working on cameras for construction sites in the 1980s. This earlier incarnation saw them launch the ‘Morrow TV network’ for Morrow Crane; a system that provided video broadcast feeds
British Columbia’s Opticrane shared that their systems have been associated with a 20 per cent increase in productivity.
so the corporate team could observe their facilities.
When a large insurer noted that every crane would be safer with a camera on the trolley, the team shifted focus and established a patent on the crane safety camera in 2004.
“A university study early in our history showed our camera gave a 38 per cent boost to picks in the blind and a 25 per cent time savings in general,” said HookCam general manager David Catanzaro. “An advanced cameras system like ours won 4.5 stars out of five for communication and safety. It was a good start for a young system like ours.”
Catanzaro noted they have shipped thousands of units in their quarter-century of business. Their product line includes 7, 10 and 15-inch monitors, though a 10-inch tablet monitor with 2.4K resolution is considered their standard.
The colour capability of its display helps to depict finer details, and video feeds can be viewed remotely, streamed, and recorded (up to 30 days), with remote diagnostics also possible. The camera itself can be installed on a variety of crane parts, including the hook, trolley and boom tip.
“Our camera is special,” Catanzaro said. “We have it made with an IP67 rating and it is housed in 1 cm 6030 aluminum. The cam-
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era lens is pinhole, so it resists water penetration, and it is surrounded by an epoxy mix to both reduce vibration and resist dust and water. The camera on the hook, boom tip or trolley is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery.”
Overall, the HookCam device takes up relatively little space on the hook or boom tip, with its housing adhering to the hook with a 400 lb. capacity switchable deodynium magnet. This simplifies the installation process and adds to the overall short learning curve for the product.
HoistCam
Also based in Virgina, HoistCam, a subsidiary of Netarus, offer four crane camera products, with their three wireless models available in options that use either battery power or native power from the crane itself.
Their lowest price point, however, is a wired system, the HD107. HoistCam’s vice president of business development, Greg Lanese, noted the HD107’s most optimal application would likely be with a small excavator, or other areas where a wireless camera isn’t necessary.
The wireless options are all based around HoistCam’s distinctive yellow transmitter box, which sends the wireless video signal to a monitor. The HD147 has the camera at the end of a five-footlong cable, allowing significant flexibility in camera positioning.
“In the 147, you’ve got an umbilical cord that comes off the box that allows you to essentially place that ball camera in any given
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location,” says Lanese. “So, although it’s a fixed focal length, you have the capability of moving it around and putting it in different locations depending on what the application is.”
The HD187 has its manually-adjustable camera mounted in an armoured dome right on the transmitter box. The highest end model, the HD197, has a remote control that allows significantly more nuanced camera adjustments without having to access the camera itself.
“[The 187] gives you different capabilities and different options on the same wireless signal and quality in terms of signal transmission, while the 197 is a pan-tilt zoom, and the operator has a joystick in the cab to move it around and focus in and out,” said Lanese. “There’s also 40 or 50 memory presets on that joystick, so if the operator is doing a repetitive activity, they can preset the positions of where they want the camera, and with the touch of a button it’ll go right back to that memory preset.”
Opticrane
The owner of British Columbia’s Opticrane, Paul Roussel, started his company with the goal of making worksites safer; inspired by a fatal accident that occurred while he was working as a plant manager in Vancouver during the early 2000s.
“From that moment on, I changed my goal, my objective,” Paul said. “I can’t have another guy die under my watch. I started to make life decisions that would allow me to be in positions where I can improve the safety of the general workplace, whether it be manufacturing or construction.”
Opticrane was incorporated in 2009 and soon became a distributor for the TAC-3000 anti-collision system. Crane camera systems
The HoistCam HD187’s manually-adjustable camera is located in an armoured dome on its transmitter box. (PHOTO: HOISTCAM)
CRANE ROPE & RIGGING CENTRES
Alberta - Ontario - Quebec
followed after they formed a distribution partnership with Orlaco, which specializes in camera-monitoring solutions for heavy industry, including crane safety viewing systems.
Orlaco’s cameras feature multiple angles of view, a sunlight-resistant anti-glare lens, and over-pressurized housing to ensure waterproofing to more than 25 meters underwater.
Nicolas Roussel, a mechanical engineering student and Paul’s son, says the system is incredibly effective at eliminating blind spots, particularly in circumstances where space and visibility can be limited.
“Just giving the operator full control over his load and understanding where he is and what’s around him also comes with an increase in precision and accuracy,” Nicolas said. “With those tight pick-up and drop-off locations, you can really increase your efficiency by knowing exactly where you are from that angle up in the cab. It might be difficult to see where you’re going to be landing your load, and that does come with experience, but when you have that camera system it makes it way more efficient for the operator.”
Nicolas noted their systems generally lead to an estimated 20 per cent increase in productivity among users. This can result in the system paying for itself through increased productivity over a couple of months if installed early enough, said Paul.
“It’s not that we don’t trust operators or operators aren’t doing their jobs: the environment they have to work in is extreme and there’s a lot of pressure, so these are operator aides to help them,” he said. “[For instance,] we don’t need cameras to back up a vehicle – it just makes it safer because you’re sure there’s nobody behind you. That’s how the culture is changing compared to when we first introduced these systems.”
A HookCam attached to a Liebherr hook block mid-lift.
(PHOTO: HOOKCAM)
Bridging the gaps
Inside the University of Alberta and CCRA’s Bridge Formula Research Project. By
Andrew Snook,
on behalf of the Canadian Crane Rental Association
It’s no surprise to professionals in the crane rental sector that one of the most challenging aspects of their jobs is transporting cranes to sites, especially when provincial border crossings are part of the equation.
Thankfully, there is work being done through the Bridge Formula Research Project to make this aspect of crane rental companies’ operations more efficient. Funded by the Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA), the project is led by Dr. Shay Abtahi, assistant professor with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering.
While the public largely believes lifting heavy loads is the primary challenge of crane rental companies, few understand that one of the biggest challenges is moving those cranes to job sites, especially whenever bridge crossings are involved.
“For this, we have some equations, some weight regulations for bridges. Specifically, they are called bridge formulas,” Dr. Abtahi explained. “These formulas depend on different parameters, for example: the weight of each axle, the spacing between axles, the configuration of the cranes; and
then [regulators] will say to crane operators if they can pass over a bridge or not.”
The current formulas are problematic for the crane rental sector because they were developed based on heavy trucks and not specifically tailored for mobile cranes.
“When it comes to heavy trucks, the weight they carry depends on the load that they carry, and there’s lots of uncertainties there,” Dr. Abtahi said. “The equations for these cranes are too conservative, and we’ve seen this in other countries, like in Australia, where they are trying to set a different category for all-terrain cranes so they can have their own specific regulations.”
No province in Canada currently has specific categories for mobile cranes when it comes to these bridge formulas, which is part of what prompted the research project. Another issue that Dr. Abtahi and her team are trying to resolve is the varying weight regulations by province.
“One of the reasons is the different weather conditions we have in the provinces. For example, in some provinces, because of the long winters or very cold winters, we may have some effects coming
from the ice. In some other provinces, the effect is lower. So, the regulations are different,” Dr. Abtahi explained. “The other reason for these differences is that in some provinces, we have aged bridges, the aging effect is more significant, and to be on the safe side, they consider the condition of all bridges.”
If the bridges are largely deemed to be in poor condition – which is not uncommon with many provinces’ aging infrastructure – the weight regulations tend to be more conservative. The need for a more unified system to assist with regulations across the provinces was a key driver for the Bridge Formula Project.
The platform that Dr. Abtahi’s team is developing would allow for a crane operator to log into a system where they could input all of the properties or configurations of their crane along with their trip data.
Once the data has been shared, the system would automatically look for the best route by considering a combination of the shortest route and the bridges that the inputted mobile crane is allowed to pass over. The newly developed bridge formula would
CRANE TRANSPORT
be used in this system, which would offer operators more efficient and reliable data.
“In the end, the platform would automatically send this information to provincial governments. For this, we need to confirm with the governments that they are okay with using this system,” Dr. Abtahi noted.
The provincial governments have shown interest in the Bridge Formula Project and are eager to review the results.
“They are willing to see the new bridge formula, the reliability analysis of the current weight regulations,” Dr. Abtahi said. “Because this is the first one, we need to show them that the regulations they have are too conservative. We need to prove this in a scientific way, not just by saying this out of experience.”
Currently, Dr. Abtahi’s team is focused on three key areas of the project. The first was the evaluation of weight regulations in different provinces. The findings were shared at the 2025 CCRA Conference in Edmonton this past June.
“We have different bridge formulas that are very old. They’re usually developed
Dr.
Shay Abtahi, assistant professor with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering, is working alongside the CCRA to help develop more efficient bridge transport for mobile cranes.
based on old criteria, like considering the maximum stress in a member of a bridge. Nowadays, the design of bridges, in general, is not based on the stress. It’s based on reli-
ability,” Dr. Abtahi said. “Based on the current evaluation that we have, we showed that the reliability level for the weight regulations is very high, almost twice what it should be. This means that for cranes, it’s too conservative. So, the experience industry had is correct, and we can prove that.”
Now that the evaluation of weight regulations has been completed, the next step is developing the new bridge formula, while considering the reliability criteria using CSA-S6 Standard during various field tests that will Dr. Abtahi is hoping to commence in spring 2026. These tests will involve having a mobile crane pass over a bridge while her team uses various instruments to record the structural responses, such as deformations it may have, or the level of stress in different sections. Dr. Abtahi’s team would then compare the data.
“First we would verify the computational models that we have, and also show the level of stress, or compare the level of stress caused by cranes, comparing that to what was considered at the beginning to be caused by heavy trucks,” she explained.
Once this research is complete and the first bridge formula is created, the next step will be focused on the conditions in different provinces that regulators consider when modifying their bridge formulas.
“It’s not clear why they have different regulations. So, what we’re trying to do is to first dig into the considerations they have, find the reasons for those regulations, and then we need to do some analysis and see if those considerations are required or not,” Dr. Abtahi said. “If they are required, we will add a modification factor to each province, and at least we can put it in our platform in the end. So, when it comes to permitting process, it will calculate all of these automatically.”
The last step before building the platform is the consideration of aging effects.
“All of these regulations are based on a newly built bridge. We are considering the condition of bridge is like new – there’s no damage, no specific corrosion or freezethaw effect, nothing. But in reality, we have some of these effects, and it can affect the capacity of the bridge. Many of the considerations we have in provinces are coming from aging effects,” Dr. Abtahi explained. “For example, in Quebec, usually the bridges are very old, and they are stricter because of the condition of the bridges. Now we can have a model to modify the bridge formula depending on the age of the bridge.”
SAFETY CORNER BY TRENTON GROVER
Making safety training make sense
What crane, rigging, and hoisting workers really
need.
When you work around cranes, hoists, and rigging gear, safety isn’t just a rule, it’s part of the job. Lifting thousands of pounds near fellow workers and pedestrians, moving material through tight spots, and working around heavy equipment means there’s no room for mistakes. One bad move can cause injuries, damage, or worse.
This is why safety training is such a big deal in crane and rigging companies. But for training to be successful, it needs to make sense to the people doing the job, not just to management or safety officers. Real training should help workers stay safe, do better work, and go home in one piece.
What workers need from safety training
Crane and rigging workers often come from different backgrounds, with some having worked with cranes for 10 or 20 years, with others just getting started or new to the industry altogether.
Training cannot be one-sizefits-all. New workers might not understand all the terms yet, and experienced workers might feel like they’ve heard it all before, but good safety programs know how to address all levels of their workers’ experience and knowledge.
Why companies care about high quality training
From the company’s point of view, safety training isn’t just about following OHS rules and regulations, it also protects their people from injury, helps them avoid incidents or property damage, and keeps jobs running smoothly.
If someone gets hurt or there is an incident, it can shut down a job site, have a large financial implication, and damage the company’s reputation; causing possible loss of future work.
More companies are taking the time to build or bulk up internal safety programs instead of sending people to third party training companies; running in-house training tailor-made for their workers, equipment, and scope of work.
Good safety training isn’t just checking boxes or passing tests – it’s making sure everyone understands how to work smart, watch out for each other, and stay safe, every day.
A lot of workers learn best by doing, not by sitting in a classroom. Hands-on practice, videos, real jobsite stories, and group discussions tend to work better than long PowerPoints. People remember what they see, touch and do, not just what they read or hear.
Occasionally, language can be a barrier. Crews often include people from different countries or cultures. So, if training materials are too technical or only in one language, some are left behind, increasing their risk of being involved in an incident or injury. Clear, simple language along with pictures or demonstrations are important. Everyone needs to understand what’s being taught, or the training isn’t helping anyone.
Internal training programs are a way for companies to show their employees that they care about their well-being. When specific to the work done every day, employees are more likely to have a higher participation rate, and even engage in improving training content.
Good internal training programs also help companies find future leaders: those who take training seriously and help others learn are often the ones who get promoted later. Training isn’t just about rules, it’s also a way to grow your career.
Training the supervisors too
Foremen and supervisors are in a tough spot. They must manage people, schedules, and budgets, all while keeping things safe. Many start out as workers who were good at the job, but not necessarily at leading.
This is why good companies also train their supervisors on both technical matters and leadership. This training usually includes how to run a safety meeting, talk to workers about problems, and stop unsafe behavior before it gets someone hurt.
Good supervisor training gives foremen the tools to to spot trouble before it hap-
pens and speak up in a way that people respect, all while setting the right example.
What makes safety training make sense?
Here’s what actually works when it comes to developing training that sticks:
1. Use real-life examples: Don’t just talk about rules, show how they apply to the job. Use past incidents or jobsite stories that people can relate to.
2. Make it hands-on: Let people handle the gear, practicing real procedures and walking through setups and breakdowns.
3. Respect experience: Don’t treat everyone like they’re new. Have senior workers assist in the training. They know what works and what doesn’t.
4. Be clear about the training’s goals and needs: Workers should know exactly why they’re learning something. What does it help them do? What does it prevent? How does the training relate to their daily activities and overall responsibilities?
5. Keep Training Going: Don’t do training once and forget it – rather, make learning part of the job. Conduct refreshers and renewals. Talk about new tools, equipment, and revised practices or procedures. Review what went wrong if something happens.
At the end of the day...
Good safety training isn’t just checking boxes or passing tests – it’s making sure everyone understands how to work smart, watch out for each other, and stay safe, every day. For workers, that means training that’s real, useful, and built around their kind of work. For companies, it means fewer injuries, better crews, and stronger job sites.
Eve rybody wins when training makes sense to the people doing the lifting, the signaling, and the rigging. The best kind of safety program is the one that actually gets used, not just written in a binder and left in a locker.
Trenton Grover is a field OHS advisor for BC Crane Safety.
