Last month, I visited an old friend who runs a crane rental business in Texas. As we walked through his yard filled with towering cranes, he pointed to his newest acquisition—a state-of-the-art automated crane with smart safety features. "Ten years ago, I would've laughed if someone told me I'd be operating cranes with tablet computers," he chuckled. "But here we are, and I can't imagine...

Muhidin, a veteran crane operator turned maintenance manager, shared a cautionary tale. "I thought I was saving the company money," he said, "but that counterfeit bearing nearly ruined us." He had opted for a non-genuine crane part, and the crane seized mid-operation two weeks later. Fortunately, a quick-thinking rigger averted disaster. This scenario is all too familiar in the heavy equipment...

Last month, I witnessed a contractor lose a $50,000 contract because their crane was down for three weeks waiting for a vital part. The financial loss was significant, but the reputational damage was even greater. This incident highlighted a crucial truth: in the lifting industry, your spare parts strategy is essential for survival. The Hidden Costs of Inadequate Parts Management Let’s...