[WRE | SPOTLIGHT]

VAN BEEST’S Green Pin® ROV Shackles wins LEEA Innovation Award

Announcing the winners, John Williams, operations manager for LEEA, said: “This is only the second year of the Innovation Awards, but we attracted a wide range of very impressive entries, ranging from lift planning software and RFID tags to ingenious modular lifting systems. However, the judges ultimately agreed that Van Beest and Hoist UK had demonstrated the most compelling evidence of innovative thinking to address demanding lifting applications.”

Van Beest’s Green Pin® ROV range uses a specially designed quick release shackle that can be manipulated easily by an ROV’s hydraulically operated arm, without compromising safety. Developed specifically for sub-sea applications, these products overcome the limitations of solutions based on standard products, and can significantly reduce the time taken to disassemble shackles underwater.

The recent recognition for the Dutch company Van Beest is built on a long history of manufacturing of fittings for lifting chain and steel wire rope. For over 90 years, the production of high tensile shackles has been the core business and competence of the company, which was founded in 1922. From the very beginning Van Beest has been forging shackles and their ironwork expertise gave the shackle an edge over the competition.

The genesis for the Green Pin® ROV release shackle is based on a unique set of engineering characteristics designed after discussions with end users. Previously, special shackles for use by ROV’s were not available. Companies used standard shackles for subsea lifting jobs, and the assembly and disassembly of shackle pins

Van Beest, a long established specialist in the production of high tensile shackles, was recently announced as a winner of the “Best Product” in the LEEA Innovation Awards. December featured LiftEx 2013 in Bolton, United Kingdom, the annual trade exhibition for the overhead lifting

industry, where both Van Beest and Hoist UK emerged as winners in the LEEA Innovation Awards. Van Beest’s Green Pin ROV shackles, which are designed for use with remote operated vehicles (ROVs) in sub-sea environments, secured the prize for Best Product, whilst Hoist UK’s Oblik modular lightweight load bearing structure picked up the award for Best Application.

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and nuts before, or after the lifting operations, was a difficult, and time consuming task. In order to simplify

installations, companies started to modify standard shackles to facilitate the subsea work. Most of these modifications are now considered substandard.

Later on manufacturers started to modify existing products under controlled production conditions. An early pioneer, Van Beest launched the trade name Green Pin® in the 1970s to emphasize product quality, recognition and demand worldwide. Green Pin® shackles are manufactured in the Van Beest production unit in Sliedrecht, The Netherlands. It is a genuine ‘Made in Holland’ product. Currently, not only shackles are sold under the name Green Pin®, but also other items, such as sockets, turnbuckles, and wire rope clips, to name a few. In 2007 Van Beest bought another production facility in Celles sur Durolle, France. In this factory they manufacture Excel hooks and chain components in grade 8, 10 and stainless steel. y

Van Beest has had a competitive presence in the Lifting & Rigging industry since 1922. In July, 2013, Chris Keffer joined the company

as the new General Manager. The Wire Rope Exchange had a chance to talk with Keffer about his new role with Van Beest.

WRE: What were you doing prior to Van Beest?

Keffer: Prior to Van Beest, I spent 12 years in the Fastener Industry. I was National Sales Manager for Advance Components and most recently, Director of Sales for Houston-based NAPPCO Fastener Company.

WRE: What specific strengths do you bring to the company?

Keffer: I’ve successfully run several sales organizations in my career. I know how to grow a business and I know how to, or will find a way to achieve my goals. I believe my leadership style and the way I communicate with my employees and customers has contributed to my success in Industrial Distribution. I look forward to a very long relationship with Van Beest and I look forward to the road ahead.

WRE: What goals have you set for yourself in 2014?

Keffer: My immediate focus is to contribute to VB’s success in increasing brand awareness, and letting our customers and future customers know that we’re here to take care of them. My two main goals for 2014 are to, first, diversify our product mix here in the USA. We are going to test the market with sockets and snatch blocks to compliment the rest of our rigging hardware. Second, we are going to be very aggressive in the sales aspect of the business. We’ve got the stock, we’ve got the knowledge, we’ll offer any and all support, and we’re here to stay.

WRE: What is your business philosophy?

Keffer: People buy from people. Offer a quality product at a competitive and fair price with exceptional customer service, build a solid relationship - and the business will follow. Be honest – your name, character and word are your best assets. y

Q&A with CHRIS KEFFER, GM at Van Beest for US & Canadian Operations

John Williams, operations manager for LEEA, presents the Innovation Award for Best Product to Anja van Beest at LiftEx 2013.