Finalists and Results / Judges’ Profiles

The LLEAP competition considered four categories of entries:

MEWPs: Self-propelled boom lifts; manually or selfpropelled scissor, mast or other vertical lifts; compact lifts; specialty lifts. Material Handlers: Rough-terrain vertical-mast forklifts and telescopic-boom handlers( fixed and rotating). Features and Components: Features developed by an OEM or supplier that are integral to an OEM’ s new or existing MEWP, vehicle-mounted-lift or material handler. Aftermarket Support Products and Services: Products and services developed and sold specifically for equipment users.

How entries were judged:

In evaluating each entry, the judges looked for: Innovative features and technology. Perceived value. Productivity for owners and users. Overall benefit to the industry, owners and users.

Finalists and Results

MEWPs

GOLD: MEC DualReach 85-J Boom...................................... www. mecawp. com SILVER: Palazzani TSJ 82........................................... www. palazzani-usa. com MEC 3232SE......................................................................... www. mecawp. com MEC Micro 2032SE................................................................ www. mecawp. com Nifty Lift HeightRider 15 Hydrogen-Electric HR15 H2E........... www. niftylift. com Skyjack SJ3213 Micro.............................................................. www. skyjack. com Sinoboom TB860EJP Li.................................................................... sinoboom. us

Material Handlers

GOLD: Xtreme Manufacturing XR50100-G............................... www. xmfg. com SILVER: Magni RTH 10.37................................................... www. magnith. com Manitou MTA 519.................................................................. www. manitou. com

Features and Components

GOLD: DICA LevelRight Adjustable Pads..................................... dicausa. com SILVER: JLG ClearSky Smart Fleet........................................... www. jlg. com / en DICA MaxiTrack.............................................................................. dicausa. com Skyjack E-Drive....................................................................... www. skyjack. com North Valley Research PC7100 Controller................................ www. nvr-us. com

Aftermarket Support Products & Services

GOLD: CM Labs Intellia Instructor................................. www. cm-labs. com / en SILVER: OTR Engineered Solutions LIFTBOSS A / T Tires.... www. otrwheel. com TireSocks FoldOut................................................................. www. tiresocks. com

Michael Crouch Company: RMC Consults Title: President Michael Crouch is the president of RMC Consults LLC in Anthem, Arizona. His 46-year career in the equipment-rental industry consists of all aspects of the construction equipment rental industry in the US, Canada and Europe.

Crouch works as a consultant to the investment community on the equipment rental space, adviser to rental companies on financial performance and best practices, and broker for equipment businesses for sale. He has been on both the buyer’ s and seller’ s side of over 100 sales and acquisitions.

Tony Foster Company: Cianbro Equipment Title: Equipment Purchaser Tony Foster has been part of the construction industry for 15 years. He has served in various capacities ranging from field and project engineering to fleet rental management and equipment purchasing.

Foster currently works in Cianbro Equipment’ s Pittsfield, Maine, office where he assists Cianbro operations, estimating, manufacturing and external rental customers with the equipment needs. Cianbro Equipment operates in six locations in five states and has a diverse fleet of serval thousand pieces of construction and lifting equipment.

Tony Groat Company: International Powered Access Federation Title: North American Manager Tony Groat has been the North American regional manager for the International Powered Access Federation( IPAF) since 2007, directing association activities to meet the mission of promoting the safe and effective use of powered access equipment. He is active in a number of organizations related to MEWP standards in North America.

Groat concluded a 31-year career in the equipment rental business in 2006 as the regional vice president for NES Rentals.

Bryan McClure Company: Trivent Safety Consulting Title: Owner Bryan McClure has worked in the construction industry for more than 30 years. He was a second- generation ironworker and owes his livelihood to his father teaching him a strong work ethic and introducing him to the trades at a young age.

During his construction career, McClure has worn many hats including ironworker, foreman, crane operator, superintendent, craft instructor and training manager. Much of his experience was working for a large international steel erection company. It was this company that gave Bryan his first opportunity as an instructor in 2007.

In 2018, McClure started Trivent Safety Consulting with two partners. Trivent has offices in Orlando, Florida, Austin, Texas, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, with the headquarters in Westminster, Colorado. In 2022, Trivent opened its new training center in Wheatridge, Colorado, with an indoor structural steel training tower.

Mike Larson Company: Retired Title: Editor Emeritus, Crane Hot Line Mike Larson retired in December of 2023 from Catalyst Communications Network after editing Crane Hot Line magazine for nearly seven years. He previously had edited Lift & Access for more than six years.

His career in writing about cranes, other heavy equipment, construction and engineering spans 45 years. It began with 24 years in marketing communications for a leading manufacturer of cranes, followed by 21 years of editing and writing for industry publications.

Before joining Heartland Communications( now Catalyst Communications Network) in 2011, he had edited Western Builder and Midwest Construction and had written for Engineering News-Record and Constructor magazines. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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