FEATURE | YEAR IN REVIEW
Workforce constraints and tighter standards are prompting the adoption of more automated crane operations.
this is coming from Hybar, a new producer of steel reinforcing bar, which not only started up its initial mini-mill at the end of May, but Dave Stickler, its chief executive officer, said that the company also has plans to build three or four additional mills. In fact, it has already received the necessary environmental permits should it decide to go ahead with building a second rebar mill in Osceola. The company, however, is not expected to
make a final decision on whether to go ahead with that mill until the first quarter of 2026 and
its decision whether or not to build another mill in thte southeastern US is not expected until six to nine months after that. In addition, Hyundai Steel announced plans
to build a greenfield steel mill in Louisiana to produce automotive plate both for its company and other automakers and Pacific Steel Group is in the process of building a rebar micro-mill in Mojave – the first steel mill to be built in California in five decades – and Gerdau recently announced that it was considering reshoring some SBQ bar capacity from Mexico to the US.
Getting everything to work
Labour issues have had an impact upon crane and hoist demand, Gorbel’s Beightol notes that, with crane users continuing to have trouble attracting skilled labour, they have had to look for new ways to move products through their factory’s assembly lines and work cells. “And overhead cranes and hoists have been playing a big part in that,” given that, while not as extreme as late last year, he explains that manufacturers feel that it will continue to be an issue. That view is the mixed message is supported
by mixed message of the September US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report, which was just released in mid-November because of the government shutdown, and reported an increase in the unemployment rate to its highest level in four years even though more jobs were added than had been expected. Conductix-Wampfler’s Roberts observed that the combination of the workforce constraints and tighter OSHA/safety standards are prompting the adoption of more automated crane operations, collision avoidance systems and operator assist features. He noted that, given the growing interest
The sector continues to face a skilled labour shortage crisis. 72 Winter 2025 |
ochmagazine.com
in smarter, more efficient (and safer) cranes, many suppliers have expanded their portfolios to embrace such automation trends as no-fly zone technologies, laser-guided positioning and collision avoidance. While in the near-to medium term they still will not account for the majority of cranes, GW Becker’s Piso says that the industry is
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