Coffing JLC Chain Hoists – Built Strong for 40 Years

The favorite part of my job is working with so many great people at Columbus McKinnon who work in the different facilities and departments of our organization. One thing I’ve discovered is that all of of my fellow associates take great pride in the products we produce, and their enthusiasm overflows into everything that we do. I was witness to another demonstration of this excitement during a recent discussion about our JLC chain hoist series and its upcoming 40th year anniversary.

So I made a call to Joe Ombrello, General Manager of our Wadesboro, North Carolina Operations, to learn more about this special electric chain hoist series. Here is what he had to say in response to my questions:

“When was the first hoist in the JLC Series built?”

As you know, the current JLC has 3 predecessors. Its lineage dates back to 1974 with the first JF Model. Next the ELC series with a clutch and an oil filled gear case started around 1979. Our JL version (JL1.0) went into production in 2002. It was then upgraded to our current JLC model in 2010. In a nutshell, we have been making this product series for almost 40 years!

“Did we purchase this technology from someone or did we develop it on our own?”

The technology was developed internally by our Coffing Hoist engineering department in Wadesboro, North Carolina.

“Please share with me the most interesting customer application story ever told about the JLC.”

Over 40 Coffing JLC hoists were used in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China to suspend trusses in the swimming arena.

“Is there anything else that you would like to share from your background and experience that you think others might find interesting?”

The Coffing JF hoists were used in the 1960’s by the United States military for nuclear warhead maintenance and handling. Our JF hoist was also the original concert hoist used by the Grateful Dead in the early 70’s. Today, our JLC hoist can be found in sporting and entertainment arenas all over the world and is used by touring concerts for Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre and Toby Keith.

Best of all, the JLC product series – along with the CM Lodestar – are made in America. That is something everyone here in Wadesboro, North Carolina is very proud of. We share that feeling of pride with our fellow Associates at our Damascus, Virginia Operations who manufacture the CM Valustar, Man Guard and ShopStar electric chain hoists.

In what application do you use our JLC chain hoist?