March 5 - UK-based global engineering company Modulift has appointed Sarah Spivey as group managing director. Spivey plans to make expansion of the company a priority.

She said "I'm delighted to be offered this opportunity to take the company forward. It's an exciting time for Modulift as we are launching a new rental division, offering lifting equipment for heavy lifts up to 1,000 tonnes for rent from periods of one week to one year and beyond."

Spivey will continue to head the sales and marketing division alongside her new role and takes over as Modulift equipment came to the rescue of a significant Spanish mining customer.

GranitosIberica, one of the biggest granite companies in Spain, was having major problems with the lifting of granite blocks as the process used was damaging the blocks due to the stresses the blocks were being put under.

Modulift identified the problem: the customer was using an inappropriate twin basket sling arrangement. Switching to a Modulift spreader beam, lighter chain slings were required and the sling angles were improved which provided a more stable and safer lift.

The spreader beam was rented for two weeks for GranitosIberica to trial. Three weeks later it decided to purchase the beam.