CONTACT:
    Karen L. Howard, Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer
    Phone:  716.689.5550
    KAREN.HOWARD@CMWORKS.COM
    -or-
    Timothy R. Harvey, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel
    Phone:  716.689.5648
    TIMOTHY.HARVEY@CMWORKS.COM


 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


       COLUMBUS MCKINNON ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

AMHERST,  N.Y., August 5, 2005 -- Columbus McKinnon Corporation  (NASDAQ:  CMCO)
announced  today that the Board of Directors  has accepted  the  resignation  of
Robert R.  Friedl  from his  position  as Vice  President  -  Finance  and Chief
Financial Officer to pursue other business interests.

Karen L. Howard, Columbus McKinnon's Vice President and Treasurer this past year
and  previously  Controller  for the prior eight years,  has been named  Interim
Chief Financial Officer.  Ms. Howard serves on the Company's Executive Committee
and has  been an  integral  part  of  Columbus  McKinnon's  strong  finance  and
accounting team and its investor  relations  program.  In her role as Treasurer,
she has also been the key  relationship  manager with the  Company's  commercial
banks.  During the interim  period,  she will direct all financial  functions of
Columbus  McKinnon.  A Certified  Public  Accountant,  Ms. Howard was previously
employed by Ernst & Young prior to joining Columbus McKinnon in 1995.

To ensure that the  Company has the best  possible  CFO,  an  extensive  outside
search will begin shortly and Ms. Howard will be the primary internal  candidate
included in the process.

Timothy  Tevens,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of Columbus  McKinnon
commented,  "We appreciate Bob's investment of time, energy and expertise during
his tenure at Columbus  McKinnon and wish him well in his future  endeavors.  We
have experienced  tremendous growth while building financial  stability over the
last year,  and I am confident  Karen's  wealth of experience and knowledge will
enable  her to  successfully  direct our  financial  strategies  in the  interim
period."

As interim CFO,  Ms.  Howard will certify the second  quarter  financials  to be
filed this month. Ernst & Young, as the Company's independent accountants,  have
also  satisfactorily and without issue,  completed their review of the quarterly
financial statements.

ABOUT COLUMBUS MCKINNON

Columbus McKinnon is a leading worldwide designer,  manufacturer and marketer of
material  handling  products,   systems  and  services,  which  efficiently  and
ergonomically  move,  lift,  position or secure  material.  Key products include
hoists,  cranes,  chain and  forged  attachments.  The  Company  is  focused  on
commercial  and  industrial  applications  that  require  the safety and quality
provided  by  its  superior  design  and  engineering  know-how.   Comprehensive
information   on   Columbus   McKinnon   is   available   on  its  web  site  at
HTTP://WWW.CMWORKS.COM.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

THIS PRESS RELEASE MAY CONTAIN  "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 THE COMPANY'S SUCCESS
AT REPLACING ITS CHIEF FINANCIAL  OFFICER,  THE QUALITY OF ANY REPLACEMENT CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER 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.

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