April 18 - Around 500 industry professionals attended the ESTA Awards of Excellence 2016, which was held on April 14 alongside the bauma exhibition at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany.

Organised in conjunction with the KHL Group, the awards event celebrated the success of a number of heavy transport and lifting providers worldwide.

The first award - combined techniques - was presented to ALE for its assistance in the installation of a 1,650-tonne bridge in Sweden; while the transport award for a load weighing less than 120 tonnes was given to Friderici Special for the delivery of a 43.5-tonne transformer in Switzerland.

Mammoet Europe was honoured with the cranes award for lifting capacity over 120 tonnes, while Liebherr-Werk Ehingen was presented with the safety award. Italian heavy transport provider Fagioli won the innovation, end user award for its work in the enhancement of four MSC cruise ships.

The transport award for a load weighing over 120 tonnes was handed to Wagenborg of the Netherlands, which moved a large bridge section in an upright position through the centre of Utrecht.

The lattice boom cranes award was presented to ALE, while Nooteboom Trailers was awarded the innovation, manufacturer prize. Fagioli was also handed the SPMT job of the year award for the transport and installation of an 882-tonne railway bridge in Bologna.

ESTA also awarded Wim Richie, vice president of the association's transport section, the personality of the year award for his contribution to the group and the industry as a whole. Prior to joining ESTA, Richie worked for the Dutch vehicle authority, RDW, for over 30 years.

www.esta-eu.org