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CraneFest 2024 kicked off in true Kentucky fashion, with bourbon and horses. Following an opening reception that featured a complimentary bourbon station, we made our way to Fasig-Tipton, North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. There, Link-Belt treated us to a fantastic cocktail hour and dinner, where attendees wasted no time taking full advantage of the open bar.
While enjoying a drink myself, I struck up a conversation with Darrell Knight, a district service representative for Link-Belt based out of Denver. For Knight, CraneFest is more than just a networking opportunity; it’s a chance to meet customers face-to-face and hear about their needs directly. "Earlier today, a customer asked me about a telecrawler — whether it could handle a specific job. It was a great question, but I didn’t have the answer offhand. Tomorrow, I’ll head to the factory, research it and figure out if it’s something we can make happen."
After dessert, we gathered in an auditorium-style auction room, where we were treated to an engaging presentation by Andrea Wilson, master of maturation and COO of Michter’s Distillery. She took us through the history of Kentucky bourbon, adding local flavor to the evening. We also learned about Fasig-Tipton and its deep roots in the world of horse racing. The night continued with a charity auction featuring a limited-edition model crane set. The winning bid topped $15,000, with all proceeds pledged to support pediatric care in West Africa.
As a final touch to the evening, each guest was gifted a personalized bottle of Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon, complete with a custom label bearing their name. It was a memorable way to close out an already impressive night.
Celebrating 150 Years of Link-Belt
Day two kicked off bright and early. After breakfast, we gathered for the group welcome session, which featured speeches from Bill Stramer, senior vice president of marketing, sales & customer support, and Melvin Porter, Link-Belt’s CEO and president.
Stramer emphasized Link-Belt's long-standing commitment to excellence: “Our focus is on designing, manufacturing and supporting a premier line-up of mobile cranes. This focus and effort is not a new ‘gee whiz’ strategy that we adopted after listening to some high-dollar consultant. We’ve been utilizing this approach for a long time — actually, for a very long time.”
During the session, they presented a video highlighting Link-Belt’s rich history, from its origins on the Great Plains to the invention of the actual link-belt. In honor of Link-Belt’s upcoming 150th anniversary, the video highlighted the company’s long history of innovation and its ongoing commitment to shaping the future of the crane industry.
A memorable part of the video was the section showcasing the incredible projects Link-Belt has been a part of — legendary endeavors like the Hoover Dam, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the Panama Canal, Hurricane Katrina recovery, and even the construction and expansion of McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
Touring the Link-Belt Plant
Next, we made our way to Link-Belt's headquarters for a tour of the production plant. It was fascinating to see the various stages and processes involved in producing a Link-Belt crane.
We started in the prototype building, where we got a sneak peek at a new crane slated for release at the 2026 Con Expo. From there, we moved through different phases of crane production, which includes fabrication, welding, machining, assembly and painting — a process that takes about 30 to 45 days from start to finish.
By keeping nearly every part of the production process in-house, Link-Belt can tightly manage quality and maintain control over critical components. They mentioned one of the steps most recently brought in-house, the production of formed booms. Previously sourced from Europe, Link-Belt now brings in specialized steel and oversees the process themselves. This includes laser-cutting steel plates and marrying the upper and lower shells of the boom — a complicated process that demands a high level of precision, but ultimately benefits its customers.
We also toured their warehouse, which holds over 3 million parts. Link-Belt takes pride in being able to provide parts for any of their cranes, even models that were discontinued years ago. Their customer service team works out of offices connected directly to the warehouse, ensuring quick and efficient responses to customer requests.
One aspect of the tour that stood out was how interconnected the whole facility is. Engineering works closely with production, and service teams are in constant communication with the warehouse. It’s an impressive operation where collaboration and efficiency seem to be at the core of everything they do.
Live Show and Product Demos
After learning about the production process, it was time to see the cranes in action. The live show featured Link-Belt’s full catalog, all set to the backdrop of country music and an American flag waving proudly overhead. Here are some of the highlights:
218|V & 300|AT
Two standout cranes on display were the 218|V lattice crawler crane and the 300|AT all-terrain crane, both introduced at the 2023 Con Expo.
The 218|V lattice crawler crane features a new auxiliary power unit (APU), a smaller power unit designed to keep the operator cool, comfortable and productive, even when the main engine is off. This feature is particularly valuable for operators working in areas with strict emission regulations, as it reduces engine hours and emissions while maintaining a comfortable working environment.
The 300|AT is a five-axle all-terrain crane, engineered with transportability in mind. Meeting all North American transportation requirements, its design makes it easier to move between job sites, offering both power and flexibility for heavy lifting tasks.
65|RT
The 65|RT is the newest addition to Link-Belt’s rough-terrain crane lineup, improving on its ultra-reliable predecessor, the RTC-8065 Series II. This 65-ton crane brings a new level of control, reliability, and performance, featuring a four-section, 115-foot full-power boom and a maximum tip height of 211 feet with extensions.
Key upgrades include a new hydraulic boom extend system that improves service life, a durable steel flat deck with six points of access and anti-skid paint replacing traditional sand strips for enhanced safety.
120|HTLB
Shares the same platform as the 120|HT, the 120|HTLB offers superior ride quality, counterweight sensing, and disk brakes. However, the key upgrade in the HTLB model is its impressive long boom, extending up to 197 feet, making it a standout for jobs requiring greater reach and lifting capacity.
225|AT
Finally, Link-Belt unveiled the brand-new 225|AT at CraneFest 2024, and the introduction couldn’t have been more fitting—set to Rocky music with red, white and blue powder filling the air. This all-terrain crane, designed, built, and tested in Lexington, Kentucky, features a six-section formed boom with SmartFly and hydraulic extensions, allowing a maximum tip height of 334 feet. Its modular design optimizes roadability, with a maximum counterweight of 118,000 pounds, making it an efficient and powerful addition to Link-Belt's lineup.
Final Thoughts From My First CraneFest
This was my first CraneFest, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was a pleasure meeting with dealers and the Link-Belt staff, who were incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. I learned so much about crane technology and the production process, and it was impressive to see the full product line, including the new cranes, up close. I’m already looking forward to what’s next from Link-Belt!
