Event Preview
SC & RA Crane & Rigging Workshop broader conversation around evolving industry practices.
As O’ Quinn explained,“ There’ s also growing interest in AI applications for the business side. On the equipment and practices side, sessions cover the rise of synthetic chain— its benefits, limitations, and proper use— plus better tower crane maintenance standards and refined approaches to planning and engineering lifts. It’ s a good mix of practical tech adoption and evolving rigging methods.”
Evolving Practices
The Workshop will also explore how changes in equipment and rigging practices are influencing day-to-day operations. The Rise of Synthetic Chain: The Lowdown on Its Benefits, Limitations, and Proper Usage will look at where synthetic chain can be used, along with considerations for inspecting, repairing, and removing it from service.
Maintenance will also be addressed through Raising the Standard: Tower Crane Maintenance That Delivers. The session will examine maintenance as an important part of keeping tower cranes operating safely and reliably, while also considering its impact on productivity and overall project performance.
These sessions are designed to reinforce the importance of staying current as equipment and rigging practices evolve, while keeping safety, reliability, and performance at the forefront of every lift.
Exhibit Center and Networking
The exhibit center, featuring 96 booths, is already sold out for the workshop, and offers attendees time to interact with manufacturers, software providers, training companies, insurance representatives, and more.
O’ Quinn highlights the significance of the exhibit center.“ It’ s consistently one of the most valuable parts of the event because there’ s dedicated time without competing sessions, so you can really talk with suppliers, see what’ s new, and make connections that lead to better solutions back home,” she said.“ It’ s sold out year after year because decision-makers are there and the conversations are productive.”
Beyond exhibitors, the Crane & Rigging
Workshop offers multiple networking opportunities, from the First-Timers Briefing, committee meetings and networking breaks to two evening receptions, there’ s plenty of occasions for collaboration.
“ For someone attending for the first time, my advice is simply to get involved,” O’ Quinn added.“ Attend a committee meeting, introduce yourself at a reception, sit next to someone you don’ t know at a session, and spend time in the Exhibit Center. With professionals from top companies and nearly a dozen countries typically represented, the connections people make here often become some of the most valuable takeaways.”
Real-World Lifting
The workshop will also take a moment to feature the SC & RA’ s 2026 Rigging Jobs of the Year during Top This: Showcasing the Year’ s Leading Rigging Triumphs. The 2026 winners of the competition will present their lifting successes, showcasing to attendees examples of engineering, planning, and innovation applied to actual challenges.
This year’ s winners include PSC Crane & Rigging in the under $ 300,000 and $ 1 million to $ 3 million categories, Sarens USA Inc. in the $ 300,000 to $ 1 million category, and Mammoet Americas in the more than $ 3 million category. The presentations offer a closer look at the planning,
problem-solving, and execution behind some of the industry’ s standout projects.
More than Sessions
This event is more than education, more than networking, more than just your usual trade show.
“ The Workshop is focused specifically on the crane and rigging industry, and that creates a level of relevance that’ s difficult to replicate,” O’ Quinn pointed out.“ Attendees are surrounded by people who understand the work and who are dealing with many of the same safety, operational, regulatory, and business issues.
“ What distinguishes this event is the combination of education, industry involvement, the level of networking available, and relationships. You can learn from an expert in a session, contribute to an important discussion in a committee meeting, discover a new solution in the Exhibit Center, and then have a candid conversation with a peer. The Workshop isn’ t simply about hearing what’ s happening in the industry— it’ s an opportunity to be part of the conversation.”
For the crane and rigging professionals heading to Omaha, the 2026 Crane & Rigging Workshop presented by SC & RA offers a chance to connect with peers, learn from the industry, and be part of where it’ s headed. Registration is open at scranet. org / crw2026.
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September 2026 • www. cranehotline. com