Visiting Columbus McKinnon

It was a crisp Tuesday morning when I woke up to the alarm, determined to make it to Chester by 09:30 sharp. However, as often happens, we overlooked the fact that our location has a straightforward route to North Wales and into Chester—no motorways required! Naturally, we decided to embrace the challenge and take the motorway instead. Unfortunately, it was bumper-to-bumper traffic, as congested as a can of sardines! Maybe one day the accounts department will agree that a helicopter would save us a lot of time and hassle.

Arriving slightly later than planned at Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO), we were warmly welcomed by Lee Carter and introduced to the rest of the team. It was fantastic to finally meet the faces behind the names we’ve been collaborating with daily for years. They’re an incredible bunch!

Following introductions, we embarked on a thorough tour of the production facility. Seeing how the products we sell daily are crafted with such meticulous precision was truly eye-opening. CMCO goes above and beyond in testing and perfecting their products. Their research is comprehensive, and their expertise is unmatched. It’s rare to witness such high-quality manufacturing happening right here in the UK. Their Camlok and Steerman product lines stand out because every single component is made locally, and the quality shows.

The day wrapped up with a working lunch where we caught up with Steve Sherwin (MD), Rob Wood (Sales Manager), and Lee Carter. We discussed numerous opportunities for collaboration and growth. Both Ellis and I left the visit feeling enriched and grateful for the warm hospitality and dedication shown by everyone at CMCO. They’re truly an excellent partner for LES and our clients.

On the way back, we took the scenic route home. No motorways this time—just a peaceful drive to reflect on the amazing experience we’d had.

-Will Dunn, Sales Director