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 24, 2006
                                                         -----------------

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                          -----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    NEW YORK
                                    --------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


               0-27618                          16-0547600
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       (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer Identification No.)



140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY, AMHERST, NEW YORK                  14228-1197
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     (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)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[ ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




Item 8.01         OTHER EVENTS.

     On  February  17 and  February  21,  2006,  certain  executive  officers of
Columbus McKinnon Corporation (the "Company") adopted pre-arranged trading plans
(each,  a "Plan")  designed  to comply  with Rule  10b5-1  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the Company's  policies  regarding  stock
transactions.  Under Rule 10b5-1, directors,  officers and other persons who are
not in possession of material  non-public  information  may adopt a pre-arranged
plan or contract for the sale of Company  securities under specified  conditions
and at specified  times.  As sales are executed in the future under these Plans,
they will be reported in accordance with federal  securities  laws.  Using these
Plans,  insiders can gradually  diversify their  investment  portfolios,  spread
stock  trades out over an extended  period of time to reduce  market  impact and
avoid  concerns about  transactions  occurring at a time when they might possess
inside information.

     The executives have informed the Company that these stock sales are part of
their individual programs for asset diversification.

     The Plan  adopted by Timothy  T.  Tevens,  the  Company's  Chief  Executive
Officer and  President,  provides for the sale of up to a total of 42,000 shares
over a period of five months  beginning  February 21, 2006. These shares will be
acquired  through the exercise of stock  options.  Shares will be sold under the
Plan on the open market at prevailing  market  prices,  subject to minimum price
thresholds.

     The Plan  adopted  by Karen L.  Howard,  the  Company's  Vice  President  -
Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, provides for the sale of up to a
total of 33,628 shares over  approximately  five months  beginning  February 21,
2006.  These  shares will be acquired  through  the  exercise of stock  options.
Shares  will be sold  under  the Plan on the open  market at  prevailing  market
prices, subject to minimum price thresholds.

     The Company  does not  undertake  to report  Rule 10b5-1  plans that may be
adopted by any officers or directors of the Company in the future,  or to report
any modifications or termination of any publicly announced plan or to report any
plan  adopted by an  employee  who is not an  executive  officer,  except to the
extent required by law.











                                   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/ TIMOTHY R. HARVEY
                                               --------------------------------
                                        Name:  Timothy R. Harvey
                                        Title: General Counsel and Secretary




Dated:  FEBRUARY 24, 2006
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