NORTH AMERICA REGION REPORT | MODEX SHOW PREVIEW
“Business for us was strong in 2021, but we realized just how much of a global marketplace we are. Just look at the auto industry; the lack of availability of a chip made in Taiwan essentially crippled that industry. I don’t think the supply chain issues are going away anytime soon.” Oz Lifting has recently seen an uptick
in projects for property management companies using davit cranes to raise and lower equipment to and from the roof of a building. The company’s composite davit cranes are in use at a hospital operated by Children’s Minnesota, a non-profit paediatric healthcare system in Minnesota. The hospital uses the crane to perform monthly equipment maintenance on air conditioners, condensers, and rooftop fans. Despite predictions of an economic
crash, the North American hoist market has remained strong. Jeff McNeil, VP, marketing and innovation. Gorbel, says the manufacturing and consumer goods sectors have outperformed expectations. “When Covid-19 first started, economists
were forecasting it would be as bad as the 2009 recession, or maybe worse,” McNeil says. “Our business fell off a bit when the pandemic first hit, but then it got stronger, and stayed strong. The economists concluded that ‘people buy things’. People can’t spend money on vacations and travel, so instead they’re spending money on consumer goods.” Distribution and warehousing benefitted
from a strong consumer goods market, McNeil explains, which has created demand for hoist products. While the travel and entertainment sectors initially took a hit, McNeil says those industries have started to recover from their decline. McNeil predicts that as the world emerges from the pandemic, the North American economy will return to its typical cycles. However, some challenges will persist. “The semiconductor shortage and supply chain issues are impacting electronics, which we’re seeing with our suppliers,” he explains. “Getting product is difficult. Some industries have built a lot of inventory because they don’t have the parts they need. These supply chain issues will take time to sort out.” In spite of these challenges, Gorbel says it is continuing to come up with new technologies; from its Hybrid Work Station Crane to an enhanced version of its Tractor Drive product. and acquiring a Canadian company last year that makes Destuff-it, a product used in warehouses to load and unload floor- loaded trailers and containers.●
HOSPITAL HOISTS R Steve Napieralski, president, Oz Lifting Products, Minnesota, USA.
An Oz Lifting davit crane was installed on the rooftop of Children’s Minnesota, near Hastings, Minnesota, USA, in 2019. The crane uses a 544kg capacity hoist made from composite material and zinc-plated steel, for 36kg) and ideal for applications such as moving a crane between multiple bases. The crane also comes equipped with a drive adaptor and hand winch that enables operators to raise payloads using a standard drill.
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