CEO DIARIES
to people who enjoy the challenge of a physically active role, where they can also apply their brain power. It also fosters a sense of achievement, as workers contribute directly to the construction of infrastructure, transportation systems and industrial facilities that are vital for economic development. It also offers numerous employment opportunities with a high demand for skilled and semi- skilled workers, ensuring job stability and security. As infrastructure development and industrial activities expand globally, the need for lifting equipment operators, riggers and maintenance personnel as well as mechanical, electrical and structural engineers continue to grow, making it a resilient career choice with great opportunities for working overseas as well as in the UK. The industry also provides opportunities for skill development and career advancement, with LEEA being central to that. Workers can acquire specialised certifications and training that enhances their expertise, leading to higher wages and supervisory roles and professional advancement. Whether planning and executing a successful lift
or being involved in the development and production of a new product, there is a lot to be engaged and excited by, and I hope that more young people consider a career in the lifting industry to ensure demand can be fulfilled and that safety can be assured.
What are your expectations for the industry going forward? Any trends or challenges that you foresee? Well almost certainly growth, which can of course bring its own challenges, but we expect to see double digit growth for the foreseeable future. Also, enhancement of skills and professionalism across the globe; new products to provide greater levels of automation and technological advancement that in turn should increase operational efficiency and safety; an increase in the use of green technologies to power lifting equipment and provide more environmentally friendly lifting solutions; and most likely greater competition too. I do hear that recruitment is currently an issue for many companies providing services
in lifting operations, so I hope the industry is able to attract new talent and certainly advancements in technology as well as opportunities for professional development and good levels of pay will be key to attracting the new talent.
I believe a big challenge will be safety in lifting operations as technological development will require a new skillset to master automation. Also, if experienced people are not in good supply, there is the risk for accidents to happen as demand for lifting operations against a backdrop of growth in infrastructure projects around the world outstrips the supply of qualified people. Very topical right now is global economic fluctuations and supply chain disruptions that could impact the industry, affecting the availability of components and the cost of equipment. We saw this after Covid and now for different reasons, including wars and tariffs, further disruption may ensue. Companies will need to adapt by diversifying supply sources and optimising their inventory management. Reid have been very successful in this regard and as part of our ESG strategy have done a lot to onshore manufacturing and utilise a circular economy in Wales and the UK.
Are there any projects or initiatives that your company is working on that you’re excited about? As a manufacturer, product innovation and market segment development are key for our growth. Although I can’t share too much of the details, we are very excited about the possibility of expanding our Porta Gantry and Porta Gantry Rapide product portfolio to enable higher capacity lifts and we are also working to expand our personnel safety products portfolio this year, where we have seen tremendous success in the past two years, with growth of 70% and 40% in revenues respectively. Personnel safety products now account for 20% of Reid’s global business. We have recently launched a new material lift range, which is gaining traction and we are very excited to see how that product category develops for us globally. We also recently acquired our largest French distributor, so Reid now has a footprint in Europe, which is very exciting, and we will be working closely with our new French colleagues to better support customers and grow our business there. Overall, though, I am mostly excited
Part of Reid Lifting’s strength lies in the diversity and innovation of its product portfolio. 44 | August 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
for our team to be involved in all the great developments going on in the business and for our customers and the opportunities they will create to serve the needs of their customers with lifting challenges to overcome.
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