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 31, 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 2.01.     COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

     On March 31, 2005,  the  registrant  issued a press release  announcing the
sale of property in Abingdon,  Virginia.  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 March 31, 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 thereunto duly authorized.





                               COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION


                               By:    /S/ ROBERT R. FRIEDL
                                     -----------------------------------------
                               Name:  Robert R. Friedl
                               Title: Vice President - Finance and Chief
                                             Financial Officer


Dated:  MARCH 31, 2005
        --------------




<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
--------------            -----------
     99.1                 Press Release dated March 31, 2005
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "abinsale.txt", "description": "SALE OF VIRGINIA PROPERTY", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3035}]
[{"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": "05717571"}, "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": "05717570"}, "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": "05717569"}, "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": "05717568"}, "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": "05717567"}, "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 31, 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 2.01.     COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

     On March 31, 2005,  the  registrant  issued a press release  announcing the
sale of property in Abingdon,  Virginia.  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 March 31, 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 thereunto duly authorized.

                               COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION

                               By:    /S/ ROBERT R. FRIEDL
                                     -----------------------------------------
                               Name:  Robert R. Friedl
                               Title: Vice President - Finance and Chief
                                             Financial Officer

Dated:  MARCH 31, 2005
        --------------
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
--------------            -----------
     99.1                 Press Release dated March 31, 2005