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): MARCH 8, 2002
                                                  -------------


                          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.  OTHER EVENTS

         On  March 7,  2002,  the  registrant  announced  that it is  soliciting
consents from holders of its  outstanding 8 1/2% senior  subordinated  notes due
2008 to amend certain  provisions  of the Indenture  pursuant to which the notes
were issued.  The proposed  amendment,  which requires the consent of registered
holders of a majority  of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the notes,  would
provide the  registrant  greater  flexibility  in  structuring  divestitures  by
amending the conditions  under which the Company can sell assets of subsidiaries
that are a  guarantor  of the  notes.  A copy of the  press  release  issued  in
connection with such action is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.  EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DESCRIPTION

99.1                                Press Release dated March 7, 2002




<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:  March 8, 2002
        -------------




<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


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

     99.1               Press Release dated March 7, 2002                   1




<PAGE>


                                                                    NEWS RELEASE

                                                                        CONTACT:
                                                       Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                                   Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                                                                    716-689-5405


        COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION COMMENCES CONSENT SOLICITATION FOR
                 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

Amherst, New York, March 7, 2002 - Columbus McKinnon Corporation (Nasdaq:  CMCO)
today  announced  that it is soliciting  consents from the holders of its $200.0
million of 8-1/2% senior subordinated notes due 2008 for a proposed amendment to
the Indenture pursuant to which the notes were issued.  The proposed  amendment,
which requires the consent of registered  holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal  amount  of  the  notes,   would  provide  Columbus  McKinnon  greater
flexibility in structuring  divestitures by amending the conditions  under which
the Company can sell assets of  subsidiaries  that are a guarantor of the notes.
Columbus  McKinnon will offer a consent fee of $1.50 per $1,000 of the principal
value of the  notes to  registered  holders  of the  notes on March 6, 2002 that
deliver consent to the proposed  amendment by the expiration date of 5:00 PM New
York City time  March 26,  2002.  The  consent  fee will be paid only to holders
delivering  consent by the  expiration  date  provided the  required  consent to
approve the  amendment  is  received.  Columbus  McKinnon  reserves the right to
extend or revoke this solicitation.

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is serving as  information  and  tabulation  agent for the
consent solicitation and can be contacted at (212) 269-5550.

Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  is  a  broad-line  designer,  manufacturer  and
supplier of sophisticated  material  handling  products and integrated  material
handling systems that are widely  distributed to industrial and consumer markets
worldwide.  Those items that  reflect the highest  sales of Columbus  McKinnon's
Products segment are hoists,  cranes,  welded steel chain and  attachments,  and
industrial  components.  Integrated material handling solutions are systems that
are designed to meet specific applications of end users to increase productivity
through material  handling.  Comprehensive  information on Columbus  McKinnon is
available on its Web site at HTTP://WWW.CMWORKS.COM.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "bondconsent.txt", "description": "SOLICITATION OF CONSENT OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE HOLDERS", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6107}]
[{"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": "02570649"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS 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": "02570650"}, "business-address": {"street1": "140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY", "city": "AMHERST", "state": "NY", "zip": "19228-1197", "phone": "7166895400"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LICO STEEL INC", "cik": "0001062622", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-53759-04", "film-number": "02570651"}, "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": "02570648"}, "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): MARCH 8, 2002
                                                  -------------

                          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.  OTHER EVENTS

         On  March 7,  2002,  the  registrant  announced  that it is  soliciting
consents from holders of its  outstanding 8 1/2% senior  subordinated  notes due
2008 to amend certain  provisions  of the Indenture  pursuant to which the notes
were issued.  The proposed  amendment,  which requires the consent of registered
holders of a majority  of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the notes,  would
provide the  registrant  greater  flexibility  in  structuring  divestitures  by
amending the conditions  under which the Company can sell assets of subsidiaries
that are a  guarantor  of the  notes.  A copy of the  press  release  issued  in
connection with such action is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.  EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DESCRIPTION

99.1                                Press Release dated March 7, 2002
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:  March 8, 2002
        -------------
EXHIBIT INDEX

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

     99.1               Press Release dated March 7, 2002                   1
NEWS RELEASE

                                                                        CONTACT:
                                                       Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                            Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                                   Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                                                                    716-689-5405

        COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION COMMENCES CONSENT SOLICITATION FOR
                 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

Amherst, New York, March 7, 2002 - Columbus McKinnon Corporation (Nasdaq:  CMCO)
today  announced  that it is soliciting  consents from the holders of its $200.0
million of 8-1/2% senior subordinated notes due 2008 for a proposed amendment to
the Indenture pursuant to which the notes were issued.  The proposed  amendment,
which requires the consent of registered  holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal  amount  of  the  notes,   would  provide  Columbus  McKinnon  greater
flexibility in structuring  divestitures by amending the conditions  under which
the Company can sell assets of  subsidiaries  that are a guarantor of the notes.
Columbus  McKinnon will offer a consent fee of $1.50 per $1,000 of the principal
value of the  notes to  registered  holders  of the  notes on March 6, 2002 that
deliver consent to the proposed  amendment by the expiration date of 5:00 PM New
York City time  March 26,  2002.  The  consent  fee will be paid only to holders
delivering  consent by the  expiration  date  provided the  required  consent to
approve the  amendment  is  received.  Columbus  McKinnon  reserves the right to
extend or revoke this solicitation.

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is serving as  information  and  tabulation  agent for the
consent solicitation and can be contacted at (212) 269-5550.

Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  is  a  broad-line  designer,  manufacturer  and
supplier of sophisticated  material  handling  products and integrated  material
handling systems that are widely  distributed to industrial and consumer markets
worldwide.  Those items that  reflect the highest  sales of Columbus  McKinnon's
Products segment are hoists,  cranes,  welded steel chain and  attachments,  and
industrial  components.  Integrated material handling solutions are systems that
are designed to meet specific applications of end users to increase productivity
through material  handling.  Comprehensive  information on Columbus  McKinnon is
available on its Web site at HTTP://WWW.CMWORKS.COM.