By Aidan Earp, Managing Director, All Star Safety Ltd
A day at Vertikal Days is always a good reminder of how much this industry keeps moving. There are familiar faces to catch up with, cranes to admire and, every year, something that makes you stop and take a closer look.
On 9 September, I visited Newark Showground with Harriet Blake, our Operations Director, and Lara Noble, our Training & Compliance Coordinator. Vertikal Days 2026 ran on 9–10 September, bringing together the crane, access and lifting equipment industry. We came away with plenty to talk about and a fair amount of literature to work through.
Harriet gets a demonstration in the Liebherr cab
One of the highlights was seeing Harriet in the operator’s seat of the yellow Liebherr LTM 1450, carrying RRC Crane Hire’s livery ahead of its move to the company.
Our friend Andy Claypole, Training Manager – Liebherr Training Services, took the time to demonstrate the controls and show Harriet how the crane operates. This was an introduction and demonstration at the show, rather than a formal training session. It was a great opportunity to see the machine from the operator’s perspective and appreciate the control involved.
It was also good to catch up with friends from Liebherr whom I have worked with over the years, as well as former colleagues from Quinto Crane and Plant. Those conversations are a big part of why I enjoy coming back.
Small details that could make a big difference
At Lift-Tex, the Extreema Original round sling and Black Belt Sling really caught my attention. I could hardly believe how compact and light the slings were for their stated capacities compared with conventional slings I am used to handling.
These products use high-performance HMPE fibres; Dyneema is one example of that material, distinct from polyester. Lower sling weight can reduce the rigging weight within the overall suspended load and make equipment easier to handle. Of course, the capacity, configuration, protection and suitability still have to be right for the lift.
We also discussed the Inferno heat-resistant sling. Its specialist application was another reminder that choosing a sling involves more than matching the number on its label to the weight of a load.
Two demonstrations deserve their own articles. At Torquer, we looked at SPEAR and Catcher for connecting and releasing a load, and HALO for controlling its orientation. The water-and-pump demonstration behind the load-rotation system was particularly memorable.
We also watched Whitney’s SECATOL remote-controlled concrete skip demonstration. Being able to control the discharge gate remotely opens up an interesting discussion about where people need to stand during a pour.
A familiar face at the concrete skip demonstration
While watching the skip, I bumped into Michael Cuthbertson, Lifting Manager at Sizewell C. I trained Michael at Quinto many years ago when he moved from offshore work back to onshore, so it was lovely to catch up and talk about what we were both seeing. Hopefully we can arrange a longer catch-up next time I am up at Sizewell.
Training, equipment records and better information
Our conversations with CERTEX included its training offer, and it was good to speak with the team at GT Lifting. We also talked to SpanSet about training and its asset management system.
Alongside the lifting equipment, we looked at software for training management and plant hire management. For us, those conversations connect directly to the practical work of keeping competence information and equipment records useful, current and easy to find.
What we brought back
The value of a day like this is being able to see an idea demonstrated, ask questions and discuss where it might fit into real work. Even in a world you know well, there is always more to learn.
Over the coming week, we will take a closer look at Torquer’s SPEAR and HALO systems, followed by Whitney’s SECATOL remote-controlled concrete skip. Both prompted useful questions about equipment selection, people’s positions and the way a lifting operation is planned.
If those questions are coming up on your own projects, our lifting and safety consultancy and bespoke in-house training can help turn them into practical next steps.