International Cranes and Specialized Transport - August 2013 - page 56

SC&RA NEWS
56
INTERNATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
AUGUST 2013
addition, he will discuss ground pressure
responses that result from various types
of soil and matting, and the appropriate
use of each.
TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF TRAINING
SITE SUPERVISOR, LIFT DIRECTORS AND
OTHER LEADERS
R Gene Kaercher, Barnhart Crane
& Rigging. In this session, Kaercher
will review and discuss how
B30.5
a nd
OSHA 1 9 2 6 . 1 4 0 0
h i g h l i g h t
an increased importance on field
leader responsibilities.
FORENSIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS: THE
TEAM APPROACH
Jim Wiethorn, Haag Engineering. Focusing
on the topic of accident investigation, this
session will highlight the key elements of a
good plan and how they interact to ensure
that an accident is investigated properly.
IMPLIED OBLIGATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTS
Robert Moore, NBIS. Moore will explain
the numerous “implied” obligations
existing in today’s contracts. Many of these
implied obligations are consistently found
in the owner’s job functions, typically
performed on a construction project.
The industry’s big little rig
SC&RA member Klaus Scholpp has
experienced more than his fair share of
challenges in over 35 years working in the
crane and rigging industry. And more than
once along the way, his creative input led to
an improvement in the design of a machine
or the efficiency of an operating system. It
should come as no surprise then, that when
the prospect emerged to improve upon the
standard design of machines in the smaller
rigging category – i.e. hydraulic jacks, skates
and forklifts – Scholpp saw an opportunity and,
once again, contributed to the industry with a
state-of-the-art product.
The product, PowerAttack, was born in
response to limitations that Scholpp had
witnessed many times on jobsites over the
years – where smaller rigs simply didn’t
possess the strength or manoeuvrability to
handle heavy or awkward loads safely and
efficiently. The objective was to create an easy-
to-use, compact and versatile tool to push and
pull up to 55,000 pounds (25 tonnes) by simple
attachment to a set of skates. After three years
of field testing, Scholpp had a cutting edge
product – which won him the coveted reddot
design award in 2012. He’s also received two
SC&RA Job of the Year awards – the only such
awards ever won by a German company.
SC&RA had the chance to ask him some
questions about his career, and what he
thinks the future holds for the crane and
rigging industry.
SC&RA: You worked in the family business,
Scholpp Crane Rental and Rigging, in Stuttgart,
Germany, for most of your career. After some
time in Malaysia and China setting up the
company’s Asian operations, you could have
retired, but you chose instead to go out on
your own.
SCHOLPP:
Yes, my father, Alfred, introduced
a number of “firsts” over the years, which
later became industry standards. I guess the
pioneering spirit continued with me. I was
involved in introducing the first 600 tonne
hydraulic gantry from Riggers Manufacturing
in 1987. Ormig pick and carry cranes, from
Italy, were another first, introduced in 1997.
After four years in Asia, I decided to hand over
responsibility to younger management and
develop some equipment that had been long
developing in my mind – and which the
industry lacked.
SC&RA: Was it a difficult transition?
SCHOLPP:
Not at all. I took the intellectual
property rights for the “PowerCat”
(PowerAttack’s original name), as this was my
idea – which led to its market introduction in
2008. I had a strong international network of
colleagues, friends and customers. Instead of
offering services in the industry, I was now
simply offering a product that could be bought
by the industry. And the family business is still
going strong – the German industry leader,
with about 1,000 employees.
SC&RA: How has the industry changed in the
time that you have been in it?
SCHOLPP:
It started from rather small, owner-
operated, family businesses that became
bigger companies. The demand and work will
always be there, as the world and production
methods are constantly changing, and specialist
and expert rigging and relocation companies
are always needed. “One-stop-shopping”
is the key word today – requiring a workforce
skilled in engineering, mechanical, electrical
and electronics.
SC&RA: How important is it to you to be a
valued SC&RA member?
SCHOLPP:
Being a member of SC&RA since
the early 1990s, when Scholpp went more
and more international, broadened the scope
as to networking with US and international
members, and this often led to cross-country
contacts and mutual business benefits – in
terms of generating business and helping
each other. I’ve always been warmly welcomed
and accepted by the SC&RA. It feels like a big
family, ready to help and co-operate. It has
been a great source for exchanging ideas and
learning how other companies cope
with problems.
Klaus Scholpp operates his PowerAttack
The PowerAttack can pull up to 55,000
pounds (25 tonnes)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Chalmers is editor-in-chief at Thrive
Creative Services, a creative copywriting
agency based in Chicago, USA. For more
information see
Visit
for more
information on the sessions, the hotel,
room reservations and how to register as
an attendee or exhibitor. For additional
informatio call SC&RA in the USA
on +1 703 698 0291
SC&RA MEMBER PROFILE: KLAUS SCHOLPP OF POWERATTACK
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