PARTNER INSIGHT
The US overhead lifting industry is well-positioned to take advantage of any reshoring on the horizon over the next five years.
developed programmes designed to have users seek out HMI members when considering a hoist purchase. Additionally, pieces on inspections, dos and don’ts and related educational materials have been developed.
Could you talk about your history with the alliance and your role as president of HMI?
Since I was one of the true marketers involved in HMI, I was one of the first individuals to sit on the Overhead Alliance. The initial sessions basically set the ground rules for the group, determined the high-level needs and gathered input from individual companies regarding the top priorities. From there, we started developing our initial brochure, worked with companies to begin gamification to the groups and worked on information that differentiated overhead lifting from other means of material movement. A few of the individuals who established the Overhead Alliance are still part of it today. However, we have brought in many new individuals over the years in order to give marketing professionals from member companies a great opportunity to participate fully within the industry. I have had two leadership stints as part of HMI, with the first going back more than a decade ago. The group was much smaller then, so each member had to wear many hats in order to move things along. HMI has grown considerably since then,
and in our most recent meeting at the MHI Annual Conference in Tucson, we had actually outgrown the room! It was great to see the tremendous interest in HMI, volunteers taking charge of initiatives and the enthusiastic attitude of the members. As with any volunteer organisation, it is important for leadership to set direction for the group, but it is up to the individuals within the group to make it happen. I have tried to be realistic in establishing priorities, and many members are now ensuring progress is being made. The attitude of the group is very positive, so I am sure HMI is well-positioned for 2026 and beyond.
Are there any projects or initiatives that your company or the alliance is working on that you’re excited about? From a company perspective, we continue to look for ways to create individual enablement in a wide range of areas, and be as efficient as possible in all aspects of the business. Many initiatives will continue during the next few years to use technology, processes and standardisation to accomplish this. From an alliance perspective, the emphasis on safety has had a tremendous impact on the audience, so this has been a ‘win’ from my perspective. Companies are trying to improve productivity while simultaneously being challenges with attracting skilled labour. The alliance has been attempting to produce materials and oversee webinars and related vehicles to stress on-the-job safety to protect workers at all levels.
With your term as president for HMI coming to an end, what are you most proud of? Engagement seems to be at an all-time high. It has been great to see member companies seeing the benefit of HMI and ensuring that they have representation at the meetings and in subgroups. A volunteer organisation is only as vibrant as its members, and HMI appears to be well-established for future challenges due to the excellent combination of long-time volunteers and new members who aim to make an impact in any ways possible.
What are your expectations for the industry going forward? Are there any trends or challenges that you foresee? I believe the overhead lifting industry is well- positioned to take advantage of any reshoring or regional expansions that may be on the horizon for the next five years. While, many member companies may have a global footprint, the trend towards ‘building in America’ should benefit a large number of members. Since 2025 presented challenges to the industry on many levels, it will be great to see what 2026 and beyond can bring if there is more certainty in costs, supply chain and the like. If uncertainty in these areas remains a huge factor, it could impact the industry as a whole, but future years should bring more clarity than what we have seen in 2025. This should provide a boost to member companies that support American manufacturing in a huge way.
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