PROMAT REVIEW
A selection of OZ Lifting Products’ davit cranes on display at ProMat 2025. 2025 MHI Innovation Awards
ProMat 2025 saw MHI proudly unveiled the winners of the 2025 MHI Innovation and Startup Awards, celebrating the groundbreaking solutions that are shaping the future of the material handling and supply chain industries. A panel of industry professionals
reviewed 234 submissions from ProMat 2025 attendees to select three finalists in each of the following categories: Best New Innovation, Best Innovation of an Existing Product, Best IT Innovation, and Best Innovation in Sustainability. Following a final round of vetting, winners were selected and announced on 19 March during MHI’s Industry Night. The 2025 MHI Innovation Award winners:
n Best New Innovation – Anyware Robotics n Best Innovation of an Existing Product – Concentric n Best IT Innovation – Fidus Global n Best Innovation in Sustainability – GRI n MHI StartUp Award – Freespace Robotics
Ashley Blum, OZ Lifting Products What brought you to ProMat this year? I attended ProMat 2025 with OZ Lifting Products, where we were exhibiting again this year. We’ve been a consistent presence at both ProMat and MODEX over the years, and it’s always a worthwhile investment. ProMat is one of those shows that really leans into forward-thinking and innovation, which aligns closely with our values at OZ. We’re always looking for new ways to solve real-world material handling challenges, and this show gives us a chance to not only showcase what we’ve been working on, but also see where the industry is heading.
What new products or technologies have you seen or showcased at the event? We brought several of our davit cranes to the show floor this year, including our lightweight line: the Alumi-Lite, made from lightweight aerospace- grade aluminium; the CompOZite, which uses advanced composite material, 40% lighter than traditional steel models; and the CompOZite Elite, crafted from ultra lightweight carbon fibre, making it pound-for-pound the lightest and most robust davit crane on the market.
Each of these was designed with portability and durability in mind, ideal for users who need serious lifting power without the bulk. We also showcased our Tele-Pro davit crane, which features a telescoping boom that can extend or
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retract under load, something that really sets it apart. Alongside the cranes, we had a selection of our hoists, beam clamps and trolleys, products that consistently deliver performance in the field.
What trends or technologies have caught your attention at this year’s show? The advancements in robotics really stood out. I saw systems capable of recognising and sorting a variety of products on the fly, even adjusting if something was dropped out of place. A few had such fine motor control that they could manipulate small objects with near-human dexterity. Watching that level of precision in action was honestly pretty inspiring. It’s a reminder of just how quickly automation is evolving and how it might intersect with the rigging and lifting space in the near future.
How do you feel ProMat compares to other industry trade shows you’ve attended? ProMat is unique in that it brings together such a wide range of solutions across the supply chain – from automation and software to hardware like ours. The attendees are genuinely interested in discovering new tech and talking shop, which makes for high-quality conversations. It’s less about volume and more about depth. People ask the right questions, and there’s real opportunity for collaboration. What really sets it apart is the diversity of perspectives. You’re not just talking to people in
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