02.04.2026

From platforms to cranes

Belgian international crane and heavy lift company Sarens has appointed access industry veteran Stephan Kulawick as group rental commercial director.

He joins the company from Austrian crane and access group Felbermayr, where for the past four and a half years he has been director of access rental for Germany.

Kulawik began his access career with German truck mounted lift manufacturer Wumag Elevant, or Wumag as it became known, and in 2002 was promoted to head of international sales. The company was acquired by Palfinger in 2008, and he decided to remain with the business under the new ownership, as director of international sales, and was promoted to general manager in 2012.

In 2015, he made the decision to branch out and joined Danish international rental company BMS as sales director based in Germany. After two years with the company, he moved to Kiloutou, where he was appointed chief executive of its newly acquired German business. Over the next five years he played a pivotal role in expanding the company through a number of acquisitions, including Butsch & Meier, and GL Verleih NRW in 2018, followed by with M+S Paderborn and Werner Middeke in 2019, and Wiesecker Werkzeugvermietung in 2020, as well as ongoing organic expansion. In late 2021, he left Kiloutou after almost five years with the business, starting with Felbermayer in January 2022.

Speaking of his departure from the access industry after all these years, he said: “Looking back, I feel above all one thing: Gratitude!

I am grateful for the colleagues who became friends. Grateful for the people in our industry who have crossed my path. Grateful for the challenges that pushed me to think bigger. I have had the privilege of working with outstanding customers and people, dedicated dealer networks, trusted partners and suppliers across many markets. Thank you for the trust and those long term partnerships.”

“I am now embarking on a new chapter in a different field, although lifting technology remains the common thread – and I’m looking forward to building on my experience, meeting new people, broadening my horizons and taking on responsibilities that come with a new level of impact. As I start my first day at Sarens I am really looking forward to my new mission at Teamblue.”