Jolein Van Steendam, auteur op Lifthing

Complexity isn’t the problem — ambiguity is

Jolein Van Steendam — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 05:55:45 +0000

In industrial projects, complexity is often seen as the biggest risk: heavy machinery, tight spaces, strict schedules, multiple partners, zero margin for error.
But anyone who has worked in the field for years knows: projects rarely fail due to technical complexity.

They fail because of ambiguity.

Complexity is manageable

Complexity is visible. It can be analyzed, calculated, and planned for.
It requires experience, specialized people, the right equipment, and above all: time to think before you start.
At Lifthing, we don’t see complexity as a problem, but as a reality.
In fact, this is exactly where craftsmanship makes the difference.

What is complex:

Tight tolerances during installation
Heavy loads in existing buildings
Production that cannot be interrupted
Interfaces between multiple contractors

These are not surprises. This is our daily work.

Ambiguity is invisible at the start, but merciless during execution.

Ambiguity arises when:

Responsibilities are not clearly defined
Assumptions are made (“someone else will probably handle that”)
Risks are not explicitly addressed
Decisions are postponed “until on-site”

And this is exactly where problems occur in projects.

Not because something is technically impossible, but because no one knows exactly:

Who makes the decisions
Who is ultimately responsible
What the fallback plan is if things don’t go as planned

Complexity demands clarity, not improvisation

In complex installations, improvisation is not flexibility — it’s a risk.

That’s why Lifthing strongly believes in:

A single clear point of contact
Explicitly defined scope
Preparation that goes beyond “it’ll probably work”
Clearly stating what is out of scope

Clarity is not an administrative burden.
It brings calm on site, builds trust with the client, and ensures safety for everyone.

Why we ask difficult questions

Clients sometimes experience us as “critical” during the preparation phase.
We ask the questions others skip. We point out risks that may feel uncomfortable.

Complexity requires partners who dare to say:
“This is possible — but only if we first make this clear.”

From ambiguity to control

When everything is clear — roles, timing, responsibilities, risks —
even the most complex project becomes manageable.

Then what is often only realized in hindsight happens:

Less stress
Fewer course corrections
Better collaboration
A result that works, both technically and humanly

Our conviction

Complexity belongs in industry.
Ambiguity does not.

At Lifthing, we consciously choose to neutralize complexity with clarity.
Not by making everything seem simpler than it is, but by leaving nothing unspoken.

Because, in the end, every industrial project follows the same truth:

What is clear can be controlled.
What remains ambiguous will surprise you.

Het bericht Complexity isn’t the problem — ambiguity is verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Training at Lifthing: How we elevate our team

Jolein Van Steendam — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:26:12 +0000

How do we turn our riggers into true experts? At Lifthing, we strongly believe in the importance of training for our employees. Not only from a safety perspective but also for personal growth and development. We’d love to take you through our training program and show you how we ensure every employee has a strong foundation to build upon.

Safety is paramount: Basic Training for New Employees

Safety first. At Lifthing, safety is our highest priority. That’s why we schedule a series of basic training sessions for new employees almost immediately after they join us. These include:

VCA Basic Training: A safety training essential for working in industrial environments.
IS-001: A VCA-certified training on “working with forklifts.”
IS-005: A VCA-certified training on “working with aerial work platforms.”
IS-006: A VCA-certified training on “handling critical loads.”

By completing these basic training courses, new employees gain confidence, and their team members can trust that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to work safely. Moreover, these certifications are required to obtain and maintain strict safety certificates, which we are proud of.

Continuous Learning and Growth

At Lifthing, learning doesn’t stop after the basic training. As employees gain experience and depending on their area of interest, they have the opportunity to follow more specialized courses. This can include working with rotating telehandlers, pick & carry cranes, skidding systems, gantry cranes, and more.

Specific Training for Specific Roles

When employees take on more responsible roles within our team, such as foreman, they take an additional step by obtaining a VCA-Vol certificate. They also receive first aid training, enabling them not only to lead their team but also to ensure the safety and well-being of their colleagues.

At Lifthing, we invest in the development and growth of our employees. Through an extensive training program, we ensure that every team member has the necessary knowledge and skills to work safely and efficiently.

Would you like to learn more about our training program or are you interested in a career at Lifthing? Feel free to contact us!

Het bericht Training at Lifthing: How we elevate our team verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Lifthing: more than just machine handling and installation

Jolein Van Steendam — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:58:17 +0000

Do you need to move machines or install new equipment? Often, there is much more involved than you might think. Some examples of complementary services are engineering, logistics and permits, temporary storage, safety documentation, or exceptional transport. Fortunately, you can rely on Lifthing for all these additional activities as well. Thanks to our wide range of complementary services, we can seamlessly manage projects from A to Z.

In-House Engineering Department

At Lifthing, we have our own engineering department. This allows us to provide tailor-made solutions that meet the specific needs of each project. Additionally, we operate our own warehouse for temporary storage and maintain a fleet of trucks with the necessary permits for (exceptional) transport.

Project Management from Start to Finish

Whether it’s a simple machine installation or a complex project involving multiple services, Lifthing guarantees seamless execution from start to finish. Our experienced project management team ensures perfect coordination and execution of every aspect of the project while minimizing disruptions to your operations.

At Lifthing, we go beyond just machine handling and installation. With our extensive range of services and in-house capabilities, we can handle any project from concept to completion. Want to know more about how Lifthing can support your project? Contact us today for more information.

Het bericht Lifthing: more than just machine handling and installation verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Better for the environment and our employees: why we choose electrically powered equipment

Jolein Van Steendam — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:54:55 +0000

Our employees are extremely important to us. That’s why we do everything we can to make their working conditions as comfortable as possible. When performing machine handling indoors, we always opt for electrically powered equipment whenever possible—better for our people and for the environment.

Environmental Awareness as a Catalyst

There is no doubt that change is needed to protect our climate. One of the initiatives we have taken at Lifthing is to switch to electrically powered equipment wherever possible—especially for indoor operations. Our pick & carry cranes, Sefiro, and other machine handling equipment are therefore fully electric or at least hybrid. This way, we aim to reduce our ecological footprint.

Health Comes First

In addition to the environmental benefits of electrically powered equipment, this choice also has a major positive impact on our employees’ working conditions. Most of our projects take place indoors, where the prolonged use of fossil-fuel-powered equipment can generate harmful exhaust fumes. By using electrically powered machines whenever possible, we minimize this risk for our employees.

Would you like to learn more about our sustainability initiatives or how Lifthing can help realize your project with electric equipment? Feel free to contact us for more information.

Het bericht Better for the environment and our employees: why we choose electrically powered equipment verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Jacking and skidding of an engine

Jolein Van Steendam — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 12:57:34 +0000

A spectacular manipulation

Lifthing was asked to transport a brand-new engine the customer had developed from their production hall to the final test location. During a preliminary visit to the site it became clear that moving the 45-tonne colossus would be a delicate job.

Jack and skid technique

It was clear that jacks and skids would be the technique of choice to carry out this precision task. The step-by-step plan was meticulously prepared:

lifting the engine in the production hall
transporting it across the site
unloading using the jacking system
skidding into the testing area
lowering it into the test pit using a jack system

Down to the millimetre

Thanks to thorough preparation, professional jack and skid systems and a well-coordinated team, the engine could be installed in the pit with precision down to the millimetre. Thus, a spectacular Lifthing operation was brought to a successful conclusion, with a very satisfied customer as a result.

Also check out our project: Jacking and skidding a transformer in a high voltage environment.

Need a professional partner for jacking and skidding?

Use our jack and skid systems.

Het bericht Jacking and skidding of an engine verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

A lifting device for every job

Jolein Van Steendam — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 12:57:34 +0000

Whether you are lifting 2 tonnes or 30 tonnes, lifting work always needs to be done with the utmost precision. All our hoists are operated electronically, some even remotely. This makes them perfectly suitable for precision work in all sectors, including food and pharma. The non-marking tyres of our hoists mean that they can be used in both indoor and outdoor settings.

With this lifting equipment, we can provide a solution for any lifting job. From small to large, you can choose from:

ICEM crane

Italian
Lifting capacity: 2T
Width: 0.940 m
Length: 2.930 m
Clearance height: 1.900 m
Lifting height: 5 m
ICEM at work

Versa-Lift

American
Lifting capacity: 16T
Width: 1.525 m
Length: 3.760 m
Clearance height: 2.410 m
Lifting height: 7 m
Versa-Lift at work

ORMIG pick-and-carry crane

Italian
Lifting capacity: 30T
Width: 2.100 m
Length: 5.650 m
Clearance height: 2.299 m
Lifting height: 12 m
ORMIG at work

Even heavier hoisting loads, even more power for your lifting job!

Do you need even more lifting capacity for your machine moving or industrial relocation? Then we’ll use our crane truck with 85T lifting capacity or our gantry crane with 500T capacity.
Our hoists are also often used together to get the job done.

Here is a combination of our Versa-Lift and crane truck

And a successful partnership between our Versa-Lift and ORMIG

Need a professional partner for machine moving or industrial relocation?

Het bericht A lifting device for every job verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

A VCA-P certified partner

Jolein Van Steendam — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 12:57:34 +0000

VCA-P: highest honours

Lifthing has again obtained the highest possible VCA certificate, which is the VCA-P for the petrochemical industry. It’s a quality label for everything to do with safety, health and the environment at work. The certificate remains valid for 3 years, with an annual interim audit to guarantee the continuity of our high-quality service.

What does a VCA-P mean?

Our VCA-P certificate means that we have developed well-designed procedures and protocols to guarantee the highest degree of safety in all our activities and to prevent accidents. Even in the petrochemical sector, where very strict safety standards apply, our employees and subcontractors know exactly which regulations they need to comply with. The certificate also guarantees that we create a healthy working environment for our employees and our customers’ workers under all circumstances.

What advantages does a VCA-P offer our customers?

Thanks to the certificate, our customers can be sure that we’re on the same wavelength when it comes to safety, health and the environment. All of our employees are continuously trained and are also highly aware of the importance of safety. It facilitates the cooperation in industrial relocations, machine relocations and assembly and manipulation because there’s no longer any need to discuss safety matters: all applicable standards are guaranteed to be respected.

No hassle with security protocols?

Try our VCA-P certified approach.

Het bericht A VCA-P certified partner verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Placing different tanks

Jolein Van Steendam — Tue, 03 May 2022 10:22:58 +0000

At the project of placing different tanks our first step was to unload them from the transport. We then rotated them and placed them on their pedestal inside the building. We had to work in a very narrow environment, so we had to use very specific hoisting material in order to get the job done.

What type of specific material?

We had to realise everything in a narrow environment with little height so the place to work in was very restricted. In order to rotate the different tanks of approximately 2 tonnes each we used two hoisting beams, one on top and one to tail. In order to place and position the different tanks we also utilized a hoisting beam with a central hoisting point to gain height.

Do you still have questions about the placement of tanks?

Feel free to contact us. We like to explain further about this project and about our assembly and manipulation of machines. Did you know that the material of Lifthing is always up-to-date?

Click on the images for a larger view

SECTOR: Industry
REGION: Belgium, Olen
WEIGHT: Maximum 2 ton
EXECUTED: 2017

Het bericht Placing different tanks verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Positioning of transformers in a technical room

Jolein Van Steendam — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 12:02:49 +0000

Our client posed the question if we were able to position transformers in a technical room. There were four of them and they were very heavy. Each transformer weighed 11 tonnes. The technical room that was their destination was fairly small and had little room to manoeuvre. It certainly was impossible to get the transformers inside using a forklift.

How did we manage to do this then?

We rolled the transformers inside using rails, caterpillars and steel baffles and hoisted them. As soon as the transformers were in place, we jacked them up, removed the rails and made sure they were positioned correctly.

Questions about the positioning of transformers in a technical room?

Please contact us. We like to give you additional information about this project and about our industrial moves, assembly and manipulation, and machine transport..

Click on the images for a larger view

SECTOR: Installation company
REGION: Belgium, Desteldonk
WEIGHT: 11 ton/piece
EXECUTED: 2017

Het bericht Positioning of transformers in a technical room verscheen eerst op Lifthing.

Moving heavy machines for Leuven University

Jolein Van Steendam — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 12:00:03 +0000

The department industrial science of the University of Leuven moved from Ostend to its new building in Bruges. Lifthing ensured the move of heavy machines of the University of Leuven. In this case it concerned a large number of laboratory installations. It was mainly the injection moulding machines that had to be placed on the second floor, which presented an extra challenge.

Some explanation

The only way we could take those heavy injection moulding machines up was by means of a plateau. We rolled a machine on the plateau and hoisted the entire contraption to the second floor. Once there, we rolled the machine inside. The area that we had to work in was extremely limited here too.

Questions about the move of heavy machines from the University of Leuven?

Please contact us. We will be happy to give you more information about the project and about our industrial moves. Did you know that Lifthing’s material is always up-to-date?

Click on the images for a larger view

SECTOR: Government
REGION: Belgium, Ostend en Bruges
WEIGHT: Maximum 15 ton
EXECUTED: 2017

Het bericht Moving heavy machines for Leuven University verscheen eerst op Lifthing.