04.05.2011

Helmut Kempkes 1925 - 2011

German crane and access pioneer Helmut Kemkes, the founder, and for many years owner, of Helmut Kempkes Hebezeugfabrik, passed away on April 20th aged 86.

Kempkes gained his first experience of the industrial crane market in Duisburg where he initially worked in the steel industry. He established his own crane production operation in 1952 and had some early export successes including a substantial order for India. In 1957 he acquired Remscheid based Kuli overhead cranes with the idea that he would be able to manufacture his own crane components.
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Helmut Kempkes

The Kuli company had been producing electric hoists since 1922 and was already a well-established name in the overhead crane business.

In addition to its crane and hoist products Kempkes was an early entrant into the powered access market and built a range of push around hydraulic aerial work platforms, which were clearly targeted at the servicing of overhead cranes. More recently the company added a small self-propelled model line designed for more general industrial maintenance duties and stock picking.

In addition to building up the family company Kempkes was an enthusiastic volunteer within the material handling industry. As a member of VDMA, he was for many years chairman of the industrial cranes sector, representing the industry on the main VDMA board.

At the wider European level, he was president of Section IX ‘series lifting’ of FEM ( Fédération Européenne de la Manutention) and was involved with shaping the early standards for aerial work platforms. He was also appointed by the federal ministry of labour, health and social affairs to the advisory board that worked on the development of the EC machinery directive.

In recognition of his achievements in these areas the German president Richard von Weizsacker awarded him the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class in 1990.

Until recently, he was still an active participant in the development of Kuli hoists although the Helmut Kempkes company is now managed by co-chairmen from the second and third generation of the family - Heinz-Helmut Kempkes and Oliver Kemp.
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A Kuli platform working on a Kuli crane