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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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) 05/17/2012 (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               14,486 (1) D   Common Stock 05/17/2012   F   759 (2) D $ 13.4 13,727 (1) D   Common Stock 05/18/2012   F   370 (2) D $ 13.31 13,357 (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

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		05/21/2012
**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 8,806 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; 152 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 50% per year for two years beginning 5/19/2012; 4,208 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 50% per year for two years beginning 5/17/2013, and the remaining 3,422 shares become fully vested and non-forfeitable 25% per year for four years beginning 5/23/2012, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(2)	Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation upon vesting of 2,104 restricted stock units on 5/17/2012 and 1,025 restricted stock units on 5/18/2012.
(3)	Reports shares allocated to account of reporting person under the Columbus McKinnon Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended (the "ESOP").
(4)	Exercisable 25% per year for four years, beginning 5/19/09, if reporting person remains an employee of issuer.
(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.

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