Crane Hot Line August 2026 | Page 7

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Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn quality control and application engineering. Most recently, Lee served as a development engineer for automobile tire manufacturer Continental. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
Engineered Rigging also added two project engineers at its Equipment Depot and Service Center in Russellville, Arkansas.
John Heinzen recently graduated cum laude from Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor’ s degree in mechanical engineering and an associate degree in science manufacturing. He has also passed the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Kaiden Reese, also an Arkansas Tech University graduate, earned a bachelor’ s degree in mechanical engineering along with an associate degree in Reese nuclear technology.
According to the company, the expanded engineering team will support the development of lifting and transport plans for projects across multiple industries, including civil construction, energy, manufacturing, industrial and aerospace applications.
• Engineered Rigging has announced the addition of two summer interns as part of its ongoing efforts to support workforce development in the heavy
Farley lifting and specialized transport industry.
The company named Logan Farley, a mechanical engineering student at Arkansas Tech
Gjorseski
University, and Michael Gjorseski, a business analytics student at Purdue University, as its 2026 summer interns. Engineered Rigging offers internship opportunities during the summer, fall and spring semesters to provide students with hands-on industry experience.
According to the company, internships are one component of its talent development strategy, which also includes an annual scholarship program and recruiting recent graduates for full-time positions.
• Franna, a global pick-and-carry crane manufacturer, has appointed Vianney Largillier as regional sales
PEOPLE( continued)
Heinzen
manager for North America. The role is focused on expanding customer engagement, distributor support and market adoption of
Largillier pick-and-carry crane applications across the region.
Largillier brings experience in crane sales, equipment rental and construction. Most recently, he worked with Maeda Mini Crane in the U. S., where he was involved in developing rental channels and building relationships with contractors and end users.
Originally from France, Largillier began his career in heavy construction before moving into equipment rental and crane sales. His background combines field experience with technical knowledge of lifting equipment applications.
In his new role, he will work directly with contractors and rental companies while supporting distributors and increasing awareness of pick-andcarry cranes in North America.
• The Caldwell Group Inc. has expanded its engineering sales team with the addition of Melissa Searle as sales engineer. Based in Rockford,
Illinois, Caldwell said
Searle
Searle brings extensive manufacturing and industry experience to the role, having previously worked for Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company LLC in a variety of engineering, product management and operations leadership positions.
In her new position, Searle will work across Caldwell’ s product portfolio, helping customers address lifting challenges through the development of custom lifters and engineered lifting systems that incorporate technologies from the company’ s product lines.
Searle said the position provides an opportunity to broaden her experience and combine technical problem-solving with customer engagement. She added that one of the initial challenges will be learning the company’ s broad product range and the industries it serves.
According to Caldwell, Searle has developed a reputation for helping customers identify solutions to engineering, product and operational challenges. Her new role will focus on supporting end users with complex lifting applications while providing exposure to a broader range of products and markets.
Searle joined The Caldwell Group on June 22.
Sterling Crane USA Adds Liebherr MK 140-5.1 Mobile Tower Crane to Gulf Coast Fleet
Sterling Crane USA has added a Liebherr MK 140-5.1 mobile tower crane to its fleet, marking the first crane of its type to join a fleet in the U. S. Gulf Coast region.
The crane recently arrived at the Port of Galveston, Texas, after being manufactured at Liebherr’ s facility in Germany. According to the company, it has already been scheduled for upcoming projects and will be used for lifting applications across the Gulf Coast.
Sterling Crane USA said the addition is part of its ongoing investment in equipment designed to support safety, efficiency and customer service.
The crane also features a custom starsand-stripes wrap recognizing military veterans employed by the company.
Designed for confined and urban jobsites, the Liebherr MK 140-5.1 combines characteristics of a mobile crane and a tower crane. The five-axle crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 17,636 pounds, a maximum hook height of 310 feet and a working radius of up to 213 feet.
The crane is equipped with Liebherr’ s Hybrid Power Concept and can also operate using an external electrical grid connection instead of its onboard engine. According to the company, all drives and winches are powered by electric motors, allowing the crane to operate quietly and without emissions when connected to external power. Sterling said these capabilities make the crane suitable for projects in environmentally sensitive or noiserestricted locations.
With the addition of the MK 140- 5.1, Sterling Crane USA expands its fleet with a mobile tower crane designed for applications requiring both mobility and compact operation.
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