MAY 2026 Ӏ COMMENT
AN INDUSTRY REWIRING ITSELF
It is not often that four very different features – battery storage systems, offshore wind, self-erecting tower cranes, and vision technology – tell the same story. Yet, taken together, they point clearly in one direction: the industry is undergoing a fundamental rewiring. At the heart of it lies energy. The volatility of global fuel
supply, highlighted starkly in our battery storage feature, is not just a geopolitical issue - it is a practical, day-to-day operational challenge. Contractors are being pushed to rethink how they power their sites, and solutions such as battery energy storage systems are no longer niche innovations but increasingly central tools. The appeal is obvious: lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and, crucially, greater control over costs in an unpredictable energy market. That same shift is playing out on a far larger stage
offshore. The expansion of wind energy is driving a new wave of engineering innovation reminiscent of the early days of offshore oil and gas. Bigger components and tighter project timelines are forcing the development of new lifting methods, new equipment, and new ways of working. The scale may be different, but the underlying driver is the same: the transition to new energy systems is reshaping the demands placed on the lifting sector. Yet energy is only part of the story. Across all four features
there is a clear and consistent push toward efficiency - using less fuel, fewer machines, less labour, and less time to achieve the same, or greater, output. Self-erecting tower cranes are a case in point. Their growing popularity is not simply about convenience; it reflects a broader need for
compact, flexible, and highly productive equipment that can operate effectively in increasingly constrained urban environments.
One machine doing the work of
several is no longer a luxury – it is becoming an expectation. What is perhaps more striking,
however, is how the source of value is shifting. Traditionally, performance in this industry was defined by the capabilities of the machine itself.
Today, it is increasingly defined by how well systems are integrated, managed, and optimised. Battery storage depends as much on software and charging strategy as on the hardware. Offshore projects hinge on meticulous planning and logistics as much as lifting capacity. And in the field of vision technology, cameras are no longer passive tools but active systems that interpret, analyse, and even predict risk. This evolution is particularly evident in safety. For decades,
improving safety meant better visibility, better procedures, and better training. Those remain essential, but the emergence of AI-enabled vision systems marks a step change. The industry is moving from reacting to incidents to anticipating them – using data to identify patterns, predict hazards, and intervene before something goes wrong. In an environment where visibility has always been a challenge, the ability not just to see, but to understand and act in real time, is transformative. And yet, for all this progress, a note of caution runs
through these developments. In several areas - battery storage in particular – the technology is available, proven, and economically compelling, but adoption has been slower than expected. This is not unusual. New approaches bring new risks, and an industry built on reliability does not change overnight. The gap between what is possible and what is widely practised remains one of the defining challenges of the current moment. What emerges, then, is a picture of an industry in transition.
Electrification, digitalisation, and efficiency are not isolated trends; they are converging forces that are reshaping how projects are powered, planned, and executed. Machines are becoming smarter, sites are becoming more connected, and operations are becoming more energy-aware. The direction of travel is clear. The question is no longer whether these changes will take hold, but how quickly the industry can adapt to make the most of them.
MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE: Editor Christian is also an example of
Aibel Aggreko
Banque des Territoires BKL Baukran Logistik Blokcam
Brigade Electronics CWHI Crosby
D&T Machinery
Dajin Heavy Industry Denzai
Dumarey Dźwigi Pomorze
34 17 31 24 37 38 35 37 22 35 29 15 29
Empire Energy ESTA Grove Giraffe
Greener Power Solutions Heddes Bouw HookCam
Kito Crosby
Kuehne &Nagel Liebherr
Mammoet Motec
Ocean Winds 'one machine doing the work of several'
Christian Shelton Editor
Christian.Shelton@
btmi.com
29 11 13 23 15 15 36 37 29
20, 24, 25 13, 31 42 31
Orlaco
Palfinger Potain Prangl Sarens
Speedshield Technologies Spierings
Stoneridge
Tugdock Submersible Platforms Van Oord
Vestas Wind Systems Zenobē
38 31 23 8
25 38
22, 25 37 31
13, 34 29
p17
CRANES TODAY 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
