The 2026 ESTA Awards dinner took place in the Netherlands on April 16 at the five-star Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk aan Zee.
In what was regarded as one of the most competitive competitions in the awards’ history, the finalists came from 23 different companies and eight countries.
Details of the winning companies and projects, by category, are as follows:
- COMBINED TECHNIQUES
WINNER
WAGENBORG NEDLIFT
Wagenborg successfully installed a 130-metre-long, 1,600-tonne steel arch bridge across the busy Weser River in Stolzenau, Germany. This was achieved using a combination of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), pontoons, jacking and sliding systems, and supporting equipment. The entire operation was completed within a tight timeframe, thus minimising the period of closure for commercial shipping.
FINALISTS
Hareket
Mammoet
Sarens
- ABNORMAL TRANSPORT TOTAL MASS < 120 T
WINNER
OL-TRANS
In cooperation with Liburnia Poland, OL-TRANS completed the transport of 15 wind turbine blades, each measuring 77 metres in length, in five convoys from the Port of Gdańsk to Ukraine. This 1,150 km operation required meticulous planning and precise execution, as well as coordination in conditions of elevated risk due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
FINALISTS
Collett & Sons
Friderici Spécial
Yilnak
- TELESCOPIC CRANES LIFTING CAPACITY > 120 T
WINNER
AUTOVICTOR
In Bagnolo di Po, Rovigo, Italy, Autovictor installed the new Calà del Moro bridge by lifting two 59-metre, 115-tonne prefabricated steel girders into place. The major challenges involved in this project included tandem lifting across a waterway, restricted working space and the precise coordination of cranes and SPMTs to ensure the safe positioning of the bridge sections.
FINALISTS
Aertssen Lifting
BMS
Mammoet
- SAFETY
WINNER
LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN
Short summary
Liebherr has designed the Y-type guying telescopic boom suspension of the LTM 1400-6.1 mobile crane to significantly increase safety during assembly. The reduction in the number of assembly steps results in less working at height. Simplified assembly also ensures the safety of operating personnel.
FINALISTS
Hareket
Yilnak
- INNOVATION
WINNER
SARENS
Sarens’ SGC-170 is the world’s largest fully electric ring crane. It can lift up to 3,200 tonnes, with hook heights exceeding 200 meters. Its zero-emission drivetrain, energy recovery system, modular design and rapid relocation capability reduce energy use, downtime and lifecycle impact, setting a new standard for ultra-heavy lifting in modern mega-projects.
FINALISTS
Fagioli
Manitowoc Cranes
Nooteboom Trailers
- Abnormal Transport Total Mass > 120 t
WINNER
WAGENBORG NEDLIFT
Short summary
Wagenborg successfully transported six transformers, each weighing approximately 312 tonnes, to the new TenneT substation in Ter Apelkanaal, the Netherlands, through a combination of intensive engineering and preparation, while paying careful attention to people and the local environment. The result was an excellent execution to the satisfaction of all involved.
FINALISTS
Collett & Sons
DB-PRO
MTD Skuratowicz
- TELESCOPIC CRANES LIFTING CAPACITY < 120 T
WINNER
MAMMOET
Short summary
Upgrading large equipment in a refinery in Antwerp, Belgium required removing and installing modules in a heavily congested process area obstructed by newer structures. Mammoet addressed the challenge using Move3D modelling to create a virtual replica of the site, enabling precise lift planning, safe access and efficient execution within tight spatial constraints.
FINALISTS
BKV
Friderici Spécial
SENN AG
- CRANES LATTICE BOOM
WINNER
MAMMOET
As part of maintenance activities at ExxonMobil’s Fawley Refinery in the UK, Mammoet supported the exchange of a reactor head in the Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) unit. The company’s FOCUS30 crane replaced the old 356-tonne reactor head with ease, while occupying a space only slightly larger than a five-a-side football pitch.
FINALISTS
Aertssen Lifting
Autovictor
Fratelli Paradiso
- SPMT/SPT
WINNER
FAGIOLI
In October 2025, Fagioli transported two massive ship blocks for the SAMA vessel – a fore block weighing 4,662 tonnes and an aft block weighing 5,825 tonnes, from Porto Nogaro, Italy, to Rijeka, Croatia. Using SPMTs and the barge Arcalupa, the blocks were loaded, shipped, offloaded, and precisely aligned, enabling safe, on-schedule final assembly through coordinated marine transport and planning.
FINALISTS
Allelys
Sarens
Wagenborg Nedlift
- TRAINING
WINNER
LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN
Liebherr’s “Game of Cranes” is an innovative, international competition that motivates mobile crane operators worldwide to develop their skills and compete with the best in the industry. The project combines practical and theoretical challenges, fosters talent development, and places a strong focus on safety and professionalism.
FINALISTS
BMS
Spierings Mobile Cranes
For images, videos and further information. go to the awards section of this website or contact ESTA Communications Manager Graham Anderson at andersonmedia@btinternet.com or on +44 7711 650691.