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): FEBRUARY 22, 2005
                                                         -----------------



                          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 5.02      DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS  OR PRINCIPAL  OFFICERS;  ELECTION OF
               DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.

          On February 22, 2005,  the registrant  announced the  appointment of a
new Chief  Operating  Officer.  A copy of the press release issued in connection
with such action is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 9.01      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.


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

99.1                        Press Release dated February 22, 2005




<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 R. FRIEDL
                                        ------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Robert R. Friedl
                                 Title: Vice President - Finance and
                                           Chief Financial Officer


Dated:  FEBRUARY 22, 2005
        -----------------




<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
--------------            -----------
     99.1                 Press Release dated February 22, 2005
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "newcoo8k.txt", "description": "NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3118}]
[{"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": "05629991"}, "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": "05629990"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CRANE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE INC", "cik": "0001263400", "irs-number": "731515437", "state-of-incorporation": "OK", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-109730-02", "film-number": "05629989"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14428", "phone": "7166895405"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AUDUBON EUROPE S A R L", "cik": "0001263401", "irs-number": "421542436", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-109730-04", "film-number": "05629988"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "14428", "phone": "7166895405"}}, {"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": "05629987"}, "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): FEBRUARY 22, 2005
                                                         -----------------

                          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 5.02      DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS  OR PRINCIPAL  OFFICERS;  ELECTION OF
               DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.

          On February 22, 2005,  the registrant  announced the  appointment of a
new Chief  Operating  Officer.  A copy of the press release issued in connection
with such action is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

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

99.1                        Press Release dated February 22, 2005
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 R. FRIEDL
                                        ------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Robert R. Friedl
                                 Title: Vice President - Finance and
                                           Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  FEBRUARY 22, 2005
        -----------------
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
--------------            -----------
     99.1                 Press Release dated February 22, 2005