SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): JULY 8, 2003
                                                           ------------


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



              0-27618                                16-0547600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer Identification No.)



140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY, AMHERST, NEW YORK             14228-1197
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number including area code: (716) 689-5400
                                                   --------------



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



<PAGE>




Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.


EXHIBIT NUMBER             DESCRIPTION
--------------             -----------

99.1                       Press Release dated July 8, 2003


Item 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         On July 8,  2003,  the  registrant  issued a press  release  announcing
guidance for the first  quarter of fiscal 2004.  The press release is annexed as
Exhibit 99.1 to this Current  Report on Form 8-K. The  information  contained in
this Item 9 (including  Exhibit 99.1) is being furnished  pursuant to Item 9 and
Item 12 of Form 8-K in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583.

         The  information  contained in this Item 9 (including  Exhibit 99.1) is
not "filed" pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and is
not  incorporated  and may not be  incorporated  by  reference  into any  filing
thereunder or under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  except as expressly
set forth in such filing.


<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.





                                        COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION


                                        By:    /S/ ROBERT L. MONTGOMERY, JR.
                                               -------------------------------
                                        Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                                        Title: Executive Vice President


Dated:  JULY 8, 2003
        ------------




<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER                  DESCRIPTION
--------------                  -----------

         99.1                   Press Release dated July 8, 2003
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "q104gd8k.txt", "description": "ANNOUNCEMENT OF FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS GUIDANCE", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3486}]
[{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AUDUBON WEST INC", "cik": "0001062623", "irs-number": "430978181", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-05", "film-number": "03778497"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS INC", "date-changed": "19980527"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "YALE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INC", "cik": "0001062624", "irs-number": "710585582", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-06", "film-number": "03778496"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP", "cik": "0001005229", "assigned-sic": "3531", "irs-number": "160547600", "state-of-incorporation": "NY", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27618", "film-number": "03778495"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PKWY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14228-1197"}}]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): JULY 8, 2003
                                                           ------------

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

              0-27618                                16-0547600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer Identification No.)

140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY, AMHERST, NEW YORK             14228-1197
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number including area code: (716) 689-5400
                                                   --------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

EXHIBIT NUMBER             DESCRIPTION
--------------             -----------

99.1                       Press Release dated July 8, 2003

Item 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         On July 8,  2003,  the  registrant  issued a press  release  announcing
guidance for the first  quarter of fiscal 2004.  The press release is annexed as
Exhibit 99.1 to this Current  Report on Form 8-K. The  information  contained in
this Item 9 (including  Exhibit 99.1) is being furnished  pursuant to Item 9 and
Item 12 of Form 8-K in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583.

         The  information  contained in this Item 9 (including  Exhibit 99.1) is
not "filed" pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and is
not  incorporated  and may not be  incorporated  by  reference  into any  filing
thereunder or under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  except as expressly
set forth in such filing.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION

                                        By:    /S/ ROBERT L. MONTGOMERY, JR.
                                               -------------------------------
                                        Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                                        Title: Executive Vice President

Dated:  JULY 8, 2003
        ------------
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER                  DESCRIPTION
--------------                  -----------

         99.1                   Press Release dated July 8, 2003