Friday round up: Ground pressure, gear sharing and big wins at SC&RA

MONDAY

Cracked cathedral walls and flying buttresses might not seem like obvious lessons for crane operators, but Geoffrey Goldberg makes the connection in his latest article on ground bearing pressure. Goldberg reports that medieval builders were guided by the way loads flowed through stone, creating those iconic Gothic forms to keep forces vertical and stable. Fast-forward several centuries, and the same principle applies to crane outriggers and mats. When the line of thrust strays from the centre, ground pressure increases - sometimes to dangerous levels.

ASME’s updated P30.1-2024 standard now includes fresh guidance for eccentric loading, reinforcing the message: stay centred or risk overstressing the ground. Goldberg’s historical detour leads to a modern reminder that even in today’s high-tech crane operations, structural intuition still matters.

Read more about how cathedrals and cranes share common ground

WEDNESDAY

Re-rental companies like NXGen rent out highly specialized cranes and transport equipment to the companies which move unusual and heavy loads. Russ Jones, managing director, explained to Alex Dahm what the company does and outlines its plans for the future. Who do you call if you need to move a large and unusual load like a heavy electrical substation transformer or part of an oil rig to a new location? You would probably contact an heavy lift specialist or freight forwarder and get them to help. But who do they turn to when they need extra equipment?

Welcome to the rarely publicised world of re-rental heavy lifting – the companies on which the specialists rely to send out extra equipment when they don’t have enough.

Read more about the business of re-renting specialized transport equipment

THURSDAY

The 2025 SC&RA Annual Conference wrapped up in style at the iconic Arizona Biltmore, where PSC Crane & Rigging’s Jim Sever officially accepted the gavel as the Association’s new president. Sever’s address emphasised the values instilled in him by his father and the influence of mentors George Young and James Lomma. The event also saw the announcement of SC&RA’s 2025-2026 leadership team and board of directors, a major milestone in shaping the Association’s direction for the coming year.

Another conference highlight was the announcement of this year’s Job of the Year award winners, honouring standout achievements in both rigging and transportation. Barnhart Crane and Rigging (3), Bragg Companies, Mountain Crane Service, QSL Transport (formerly Transport Watson), Edwards Moving and Rigging and Fagioli took home the trophies.

Read more about our recap of the SC&RA Annual Conference.