Crosby Shackles Made in the UK – Inside the CMCO Forge in Birmingham
Crosby shackles are drop forged in the UK at the Birmingham facility of CMCO (Columbus McKinnon), using steel that can be traced back to its factory of origin. We went to see it for ourselves.
A group of us from Lifting Gear Products and Europa Engineering were recently hosted by the team at the Crosby UK factory, which is now part of CMCO, for product training at their Birmingham site. We were also the first guinea pigs for a factory tour they are hoping to open up to other brand partners like us.
It was great to meet the highly knowledgeable Ashley Hall and Richard Spafford, ask questions about the products and be shown the innovations CMCO have made in the lifting industry through brands such as Crosby, Camlok and Yale.
What stuck with me most, though, was following a Crosby shackle through the whole process, from die manufacture to heat treatment and finished assembly. To be honest, it was quite remarkable to see that British industry is not only surviving but thriving.
Investing in UK Shackle Manufacturing
CMCO have made, and are still making, a serious investment in their UK drop forging facilities. The aim is to secure production of shackles, hooks and lifting assembly components here for years to come.
One new CNC machine was brought in because it has the capacity to produce larger dies. That opens up larger shackle sizes and lifting lugs, which the facility did not previously produce. It also replaces ageing machinery.
Together with new production optimisation software, this should allow CMCO not only to supply high-quality products but also to stay competitive, even in the challenging times we face.
How a Crosby Shackle Is Made
The highlight of the visit was the tour of the drop forging facilities. We saw the full production run of a Crosby shackle first hand, and how modern systems are integrated with proven industrial forging methods.
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Die Making
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The Drop Forge
We were then led into the drop forge itself, where you can feel the heat and heavy vibration the skilful machine operators work with every day. This is where loose lifting products like shackles, hooks and chain sling components are made. Like every other area we visited, production levels here are carefully monitored. On the day of our visit one machine was unable to run, and we watched work move across to alternative machines so that output was maintained. |
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Heat Treatment
Production continued through the constant-feed heat treatment ovens. Here the shackles are heat treated and tested for hardness, while keeping the important ductility of the steel so that a lifting component will deform before it fails. This is an important safety feature, and one that CMCO demand across brands like Crosby. A shackle that deforms gives a visual warning of potential failure before a greater risk develops during a lifting operation. |
Finishing and Assembly
Finally, we visited the finishing and assembly unit. Products go through surface finishing, further defect checks and the assembly of key components such as sling hook triggers and self-locking hook switches. After final checks they make their way to warehousing and distribution, to fulfil orders for customers like Lifting Gear Products in the UK and the wider world lifting market. |
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Safety on the Factory Floor
Throughout our tour of the CMCO production facilities it was clear that the safety of the workers is paramount. Each section had a notice board showing its incidents and near misses, and the numbers were impressively low.
At every stage, the team member guiding us made a point of how important safety is to their operations. An incident affects not only production but also the person, their skills and the equipment, all costly in one way or another.
Learning from each past incident has made the process safer and raised operating standards. It has created a better environment for manufacturing the lifting equipment CMCO produce.
Traceable Steel, from Source to Finished Shackle
Out in the yard we saw a plethora of metal stock stored ready for the forge. Even here we were told about the automated systems used for stock replenishment.
CMCO reliably informed us that they can trace this stock back to its factory of origin and produce the certification to prove it. Traceability is becoming key for industries that are concerned about where the products they purchase have come from.
It is something Lifting Gear Products understands and provides wherever possible.
Why UK Manufacturing Matters to Our Customers
Even with fluctuations in materials and the supply chain, the latest ONS figures give a cautiously positive outlook for the industrial sectors Lifting Gear Products supplies. UK manufacturing, construction and business investment all showed growth in Q2 2026.
This reinforces the benefit of buying from UK manufacturers like CMCO, and from companies like us who have our own production and fabrication facilities in Sheffield and Manchester. Explore our design and fabrication services, where we offer bespoke lifting and handling equipment.
Buy Crosby Shackles from Lifting Gear Products
The Crosby shackles we watched being forged in Birmingham are the same ones we supply. You can view our Crosby shackles range online.
SHOP CROSBY SHACKLES
SHOP CROSBY HOOKS
We supply bow and dee shackles from the Crosby range, with working load limits from 0.33t to 150t.
If you need help choosing the right shackle, or have questions about certification and traceability, get in touch with our team.
sales@liftinggearprod.co.uk | +44 (0)114 244 3456
Written by Arran Rushforth, Marketing & Ecommerce Manager at Europa Group Ltd
