Thanks to Liebherr for ECOL support

Liebherr invited ESTA and our European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL) to attend the company’s recent customer days event in Ehingen, Germany. ESTA took the opportunity to publicise ECOL to Liebherr’s 3,000 guests as the company showed off its latest mobile and crawler crane models. ESTA marketing manager Connie Lindhoud said: “It was great to be … Read more

ECOL welcomes second woman licence holder

Annemie Van de Velde from Sarens is the second woman crane operator to achieve certification with ECOL – the European Crane Operators Licence. Growing up with a father who was a truck driver, she developed an early fascination with cranes and machinery. In 2003, she landed her first job at a crane company, kickstarting her … Read more

Sarens’ revamped training centre backing ECOL

Sarens inaugurated its revamped operator training centre in Wolvertem, Belgium, last week, increasing its capacity both for classroom and practical crane training operations. The centre has also included ESTA’s European Crane Operators Licence in its courses. To mark the development, the company organised an open day giving interested individuals and companies the chance to explore … Read more

Christmas boost as Swiss recognise ECOL

Switzerland is the latest country to formally recognise the ESTA’s European Crane Operators Licence as the scheme continues to expand its influence. The news was received this week from the authorities at SUVA (Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt), the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund. Alfred Suter, SUVA health and safety specialist, told ECOL: ” We were pleased to … Read more

ECOL welcomes first woman licence holder

Kelly Doruijter from the city of Spijkenisse in the Netherlands has become the first woman to hold an ECOL licence. She joined Mammoet in April 2021 and worked as a rigger before starting crane operator training at the company’s academy in September. Doruijter had previously served as a sergeant in the Dutch army and then … Read more

Big boost for ECOL as Denmark gives formal go-ahead

Denmark has confirmed that it is formally recognising the European Crane Operators Licence following a series of meetings and consultations. As a result, any ECOL-qualified crane operator will be able to obtain a Danish crane operators’ licence on production of their ECOL status without the need for any further training or testing. The news was … Read more

Belgian authorities recognise ECOL

ESTA’s European Crane Operators Licence project continues to make progress with Belgium agreeing to recognise the ECOL licence and Denmark reportedly close to following suit. Positive talks are also ongoing with Spain, although ECOL supporters warn that an agreement with the authorities there is not currently imminent. The positive noises from Denmark follow a meeting … Read more

ECOL makes progress in Denmark

Official Danish recognition of the European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL) has moved a step closer following last week’s meeting between ECOL Supervisory Board members Klaus Meissner and Ton Klijn with senior officials from the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), the country’s largest business and employers organisation. The meeting discussed the next steps needed in Denmark … Read more

Mammoet’s ECOL success

Five more Mammoet crane operators have passed their examinations for a European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL). They take the total number of operators qualified with Mammoet to 25. The total number of ECOL-qualified operators now stands at 48. Wouter van Noort, President of ESTA’s Section Cranes and Mammoet’s Europe Director said: “The ECOL qualification is … Read more