Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Buer Gene P
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP [CMCO]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP - Americas
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/23/2012
(Street)

AMHERST, NY 14228
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               18,888 (1) D  
Common Stock 05/23/2012   F   308 (2) D $ 13.57 18,580 (1) D  
Common Stock               706.0524 (3) D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 28.45             05/19/2009 05/18/2018 Common Stock 432   432 (4) D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 16.81             10/20/2011 10/19/2018 Common Stock 10,000   10,000 (5) D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 13.27             05/18/2010 05/17/2019 Common Stock 7,680   7,680 (6) D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 18.24             05/17/2011 05/16/2020 Common Stock 6,490   6,490 (7) D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 19.5             05/23/2012 05/22/2021 Common Stock 6,460   6,460 (8) D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 13.43             05/21/2013 05/20/2022 Common Stock 11,146   11,146 (9) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Buer Gene P
140 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PARKWAY
AMHERST, NY 14228
      VP - Americas  

Signatures

 Gene P. Buer   05/24/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 13,433 shares of restricted stock issued to reporting person subject to forfeiture in whole or part; 1,024 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 5/18/2013; 76 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 5/19/2013; 4,208 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 50% per year for two years beginning 5/17/2013, 2,567 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 33.33% per year for three years beginning 5/23/2013, and the remaining 5,558 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 25% per year for four years beginning 5/21/2013, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(2) Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation upon vesting of 855 restricted stock units on 5/23/2012.
(3) Reports shares allocated to account of reporting person under the Columbus McKinnon Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended (the "ESOP").
(4) All exercisable, subject to IRS limitations.
(5) Exercisable 33.33% per year for three years beginning 10/20/2011, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(6) Exercisable 25% per year for four years beginning 5/18/2010, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(7) Exercisable 25% per year for four years beginning 5/17/2011, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(8) Exercisable 25% per year for four years beginning 5/23/2012, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(9) Exercisable 25% per year for four years beginning 5/21/2013, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.

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