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): APRIL 1, 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  April  1,  2002,  the  registrant  announced  that it has  received
consents from the holders of a majority of the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount of its 8 1/2% Senior  Subordinated  Notes Due 2008 to amend the Indenture
pursuant to which the Notes were issued.  The amendment  provides the registrant
with greater flexibility in structuring  divestitures by amending the conditions
under which it can sell assets of  subsidiaries  that are  guarantors  under the
Indenture.  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 April 1, 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:  APRIL 1, 2002
        -------------




<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


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

     99.1               Press Release dated April 1, 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 RECEIVES CONSENT FOR AMENDMENT
                    TO INDENTURE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

AMHERST,  N.Y., April 1, 2002 - Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  (Nasdaq:  CMCO),
today  announced that it has received  consent from the holders of a majority of
the aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of its 8 1/2% Senior  Subordinated
Notes Due 2008 to amend the Indenture pursuant to which the Notes were issued.

The amendment provides Columbus McKinnon with greater flexibility in structuring
divestitures  by  amending  the  conditions  under  which it can sell  assets of
subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Indenture.

The note holders who delivered consents prior to 5:00 p.m. EST on March 26, 2002
will receive  $1.50 in cash for each $1,000  principal  amount of notes to which
such  consents  related.   Consents  were  received  from  holders  representing
approximately  $170  million of the $200  million of total  principal  amount of
notes outstanding.

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.

          This press  release  contains  "forward-looking  statements"
          within the  meaning  of the  Private  Securities  Litigation
          Reform Act of 1995.  Such  statements  include,  but are not
          limited  to,   statements   concerning  future  revenue  and
          earnings, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
          other  factors  that could  cause the actual  results of the
          Company to differ  materially from the results  expressed or
          implied by such statements,  including  general economic and
          business  conditions,  conditions  affecting the  industries
          served  by the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries,  conditions
          affecting the Company's customers and suppliers,  competitor
          responses  to  the  Company's  products  and  services,  the
          overall market acceptance of such products and services, the
          Company's  ability to renegotiate its senior debt, and other
          factors  disclosed in the Company's  periodic  reports filed
          with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The Company
          assumes  no   obligation   to  update  the   forward-looking
          information contained in this release.

                                 ###
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "bondmajority.txt", "description": "CONSENT OF MAJORITY OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE HOLDERS", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6856}]
[{"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": "02598147"}, "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": "02598148"}, "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": "02598149"}, "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": "02598146"}, "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): APRIL 1, 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  April  1,  2002,  the  registrant  announced  that it has  received
consents from the holders of a majority of the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount of its 8 1/2% Senior  Subordinated  Notes Due 2008 to amend the Indenture
pursuant to which the Notes were issued.  The amendment  provides the registrant
with greater flexibility in structuring  divestitures by amending the conditions
under which it can sell assets of  subsidiaries  that are  guarantors  under the
Indenture.  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 April 1, 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:  APRIL 1, 2002
        -------------
EXHIBIT INDEX

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

     99.1               Press Release dated April 1, 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 RECEIVES CONSENT FOR AMENDMENT
                    TO INDENTURE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

AMHERST,  N.Y., April 1, 2002 - Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  (Nasdaq:  CMCO),
today  announced that it has received  consent from the holders of a majority of
the aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of its 8 1/2% Senior  Subordinated
Notes Due 2008 to amend the Indenture pursuant to which the Notes were issued.

The amendment provides Columbus McKinnon with greater flexibility in structuring
divestitures  by  amending  the  conditions  under  which it can sell  assets of
subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Indenture.

The note holders who delivered consents prior to 5:00 p.m. EST on March 26, 2002
will receive  $1.50 in cash for each $1,000  principal  amount of notes to which
such  consents  related.   Consents  were  received  from  holders  representing
approximately  $170  million of the $200  million of total  principal  amount of
notes outstanding.

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.

          This press  release  contains  "forward-looking  statements"
          within the  meaning  of the  Private  Securities  Litigation
          Reform Act of 1995.  Such  statements  include,  but are not
          limited  to,   statements   concerning  future  revenue  and
          earnings, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
          other  factors  that could  cause the actual  results of the
          Company to differ  materially from the results  expressed or
          implied by such statements,  including  general economic and
          business  conditions,  conditions  affecting the  industries
          served  by the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries,  conditions
          affecting the Company's customers and suppliers,  competitor
          responses  to  the  Company's  products  and  services,  the
          overall market acceptance of such products and services, the
          Company's  ability to renegotiate its senior debt, and other
          factors  disclosed in the Company's  periodic  reports filed
          with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The Company
          assumes  no   obligation   to  update  the   forward-looking
          information contained in this release.

                                 ###