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CRANES in Action
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The 500-USt Grove, the first in North America, successfully lifted and placed heavy concrete panels during a week-long project in Washington state.
CRANES in Action
PEOPLE
• Bill Stramer, senior vice president of marketing, sales and customer support at Link-Belt Cranes( LBC), will retire at the end of June 2025 after 50 years with the
Stramer company.
Stramer began his career with Link- Belt in 1975 as a design engineering draftsman before moving into technical services and sales. From 1981 to 1989, he served as district sales manager for the Rocky Mountain region, overseeing distributors from Edmonton to El Paso. In 1989, he relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, to become product manager for telescopic cranes, contributing to the development of Link-Belt’ s hydraulic truck and rough terrain crane lines.
His leadership continued with a promotion to director of crane marketing and sales in 1994, where he engaged with industry organizations like the Specialized Carrier and Rigging Association. Stramer became vice president of marketing, sales and customer support in 2004 before advancing to senior vice president in 2017.
NessCampbell’ s Grove GMK6450-1 Defies the Elements
NessCampbell Crane + Rigging made history with its new 500-USt Grove GMK6450-1, the first of its kind in North America, as it took on a challenging tilt-up panel lift project in Marysville, Washington. Working with DKS Commercial Concrete Construction, the team successfully lifted and placed massive concrete panels, demonstrating the crane’ s superior strength and maneuverability.
Washington’ s unpredictable weather and saturated ground added complexity to the week-long operation, but NessCampbell’ s experienced crew adapted with precision planning and constant ground stability monitoring. The Grove GMK6450-1’ s advanced Crane Control System( CCS) and MegaWingLift provided the stability and power needed to navigate tight spaces and heavy loads, keeping the project on schedule.
“ Rainy weather and soft ground are part of the landscape here in the Pacific Northwest, but we take pride in overcoming these conditions,” said Ralph Esary, vice president North Division, NessCampbell Crane + Rigging.“ The Grove GMK6450-1 enabled us to deliver precision and stability, even under less-thanideal circumstances.”
The six-axle all-terrain crane, delivered in late 2024, underwent rigorous testing and operator training at Western Pacific Crane & Equipment in Arlington, Washington. With its impressive lifting capacity and versatility, it’ s poised to handle diverse projects, from bridge construction to wind turbine installation.
• DICA has appointed Matt Sargent as chief financial officer and integrator and John“ Pinky” Jansen as director of marketing.
Sargent previously served as chief
Sargent financial officer for multiple companies, overseeing financial operations, mergers and acquisitions.
Jansen joins DICA with a background in branding, omnichannel marketing and strategic growth
Jansen
initiatives. He previously worked in the crane and rigging industry at Industrial Training International.
• John Francis Whitehead, 86, passed away peacefully on Feb. 15, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born on June 26, 1938, John led a life defined by hard work,
Whitehead
integrity and dedication to both his family and career. His passion for engineering and problem-solving led him to the rigging and lifting industry, beginning his career with U. S. Steel in the 1960s. In the late 1970s, John relocated to San Diego, where he managed American Rigging for more than 25 years, becoming a respected leader in the industry.
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April 2025 • www. cranehotline. com