Crosby News

Paul Skladzien has been in the rigging hardware industry for 34 years, most recently with Crosby since 2008. As the District Sales Manager and Product Trainer, Paul is responsible for managing and directing the sales in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico with many diverse markets. His focus being on the land-based oil and gas markets. He resides in the wonderful city of Wichita, KS with his wife, Valerie.

Jim DuCharme, Crosby’s District Sales Manager and Product Trainer for the West Coast, had received a call from one of Crosby’s strategic distribution partners, that an end user had broken a cam segment in one of their IP plate clamps. They are a manufacturer that produces tank heads and accessories. They were interested in a warranty replacement. Jim called the safety manager to inquire how they broke the jaw, and was invited over to the shop to be shown how they were using the clamp.

Colin has been in the lifting and rigging industry for over 30 years. After graduating from college with a business degree he started in sales, selling industrial lighting. It was a natural transition to move to rigging since he was always looking up.

Colin is our Vice President of Sales for Canada and is celebrating his 10^th anniversary with Crosby this year. What he loves most about the industry is that it is infinitely changing. Each day brings a new challenge and new opportunity.

The lifting and rigging industry has given him the chance to go underground at an iron ore mine, 300 feet over center field at the Roger’s Centre (home of the Toronto Blue Jays) and all points in between. He has had the opportunity to see Crosby products in action all over Canada.

“It is a great feeling to sell and be associated with such a well-respected brand and quality product.”

To have the knowledgeable, and experienced technical team at Crosby behind him gives him the confidence to hit the road and promote such a strong, industry-leading brand.

 [Colin at a mining expo in Las Vegas, Nevada]

Colin has enjoyed working with all of Crosby’s strategic partners during his rigging career, and he looks forward to continuing to promote the Crosby brand. 

How many times on the job site have you seen the riggers place more than two slings into one single point hook with no regard to the fact they may be tip loading, back loading, or even side loading the hook? If you are like many of the people I have spoken to over the years, your answer is: “Way too many times!”  Thus, let’s review a few single point hook application facts that may be good to know when communicating to others, if you run into this practice in the field.

The newly released 2018 edition of ASME B30.20 Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices document contains general revisions, and a new chapter on clamps.  Although covered in previous editions, it was determined the clamps needed a separate chapter from other below-the-hook equipment for more specific guidance. Clamps are one of the most important pieces of material handling equipment.

Can you determine what exactly is wrong with this rigging photo?

The answer below:

The chain sling shown is configured as a single choke, with a master link at each end. The master link near the load is being used improperly.

Master links are for in-line loading only, but since it is in contact with the load it may be subject to bending forces.

 
Jim DuCharme is the District Sales Manager and Product Trainer for Crosby overseeing the West Coast of the United States. He considers himself to be the luckiest of all Crosby salespeople, from a territory perspective. Jim has had the opportunity to sell Crosby products in the beautiful states of: California, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada.

In Jim's free time, he enjoys playing golf, cooking, and traveling with his wife, Kelly.

[Jim DuCharme at a training in Port Hueneme, CA]

Jim has been in the rigging industry since 1986. He has been a part of the Crosby team for over 10 years, joining in March of 2008. His true passion for the rigging industry is with the training. Jim enjoys the challenges of questions he receives from training attendees, and seeing the reaction when someone discovers something new, is always inspiring.   

“What I like about Crosby, is that we are the complete package. Crosby doesn’t just sell the product then walk away. We offer support long after the product is in use.”

Why He Loves Training
Immediately after a Crosby RTD (Rigging Trainer Development) class that Jim lead a few years back, he was met by one of the attendees who wanted to personally thank him for the class. The training had a powerful impact on the attendee, as he was involved in a previous accident from a dropped load. It did not result in any injury or damage, but it was a near miss (just inches) from a man on the ground. The Crosby training class taught him why he made the initial mistake, and was relieved that he would never repeat it again.

[Jim DuCharme in Las Vegas, NV]

“It is a great feeling knowing that I am part of something (Crosby Value Added Training) that could make a serious difference in people’s lives.”

 The Darlington Nuclear Refurbishment Project is currently the 2^nd largest infrastructure project in Canada for 2018. Aecon Industrial/Nuclear is a strategic partner in this $12 billion dollar project.

A newly formed ASME B30.30 subcommittee has been working diligently to develop a new volume specifically for wire rope, hybrid rope, and synthetic fiber rope. The B30.30 subcommittee consists of approximately 25 individuals with considerable industry experience with lifting components, and equipment usage.

One of the newer videos produced by Crosby is called “Sling Angle Best Practices”. This article serves to communicate the main principles discussed and illustrated in the video.