Friday roundup: Smarter insurance strategies, isophase fan removal and loader cranes

In today’s unpredictable insurance landscape, savvy crane, rigging and transport companies are learning to do more than just buy coverage—they’re strategically managing risk to gain a business edge. Rather than treating insurance like a fixed expense, proactive companies are working closely with brokers, leveraging tools like Return to Work programs and Automated Event Recorders, and exploring loss-sensitive options like captives and large deductibles. The result is fewer claims, stronger safety cultures and better long-term rates. National Interstate’s Rose Augustin discusses how to leverage risk management to set your company apart in the marketplace.

Facing a series of unknowns and challenging conditions Barnhart Crane & Rigging completed the intricate removal and replacement of an isophase fan at a power plant in the USA. The project required careful planning, precision engineering and the use of several custom tools to manage difficult loads and offset centers of gravity. The fan had to be extracted from the turbine building through a wall opening into the plant’s switchyard. The original fan was disassembled into four sections, each with an unknown center of gravity, while the replacement came in three sections with significantly offset weight distribution. Barnhart used a mix of unconventional lifting solutions, including its MOCCS counterweight cantilever system, a custom-modified 27K Tipstick, a 75 US ton Mobilift, a 100-ton slide and multi-lift jacks.

Power meets precision in the latest wave of articulating loader cranes hitting the market. From Fassi’s record-breaking F2350RL-HXP Techno to Hiab’s modular iQ.708 HiPro and Palfinger’s connected PK 880 TEC, manufacturers are raising the bar with smarter control systems, increased outreach, and adaptable stabilisation. These cranes are not just lifting more, they’re doing it faster, safer and in even tighter spaces. Niamh Marriott explores how manufacturers are blending strength with intelligent systems to meet the demands of modern urban construction. With several strategic acquisitions also reshaping the industry landscape, it’s clear that the loader crane sector is in motion.