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): JANUARY 25, 2008
                                                         ----------------


                          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)

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 3.03           MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     (a) On January 21,  2008,  the  registrant's  Board of  Directors  approved
certain  amendments  to  the  registrant's  Certificate  of  Incorporation.  The
amendments  eliminate  the Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock (the
"Series A  Preferred  Stock") as a series of  preferred  shares of the  Company,
inasmuch as the Series A Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to the registrant's
First  Amendment and  Restatement  of Rights  Agreement,  dated October 1, 1998,
which expired by its terms on November 10, 2007. The registrant's Certificate of
Incorporation is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1. The Certificate of Amendment to
registrant's Certificate of Incorporation is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2.

     (b) On January 21,  2008,  the  registrant's  Board of  Directors  approved
certain amendments to the registrant's  By-Laws. The amendments change the dates
by which  shareholders are required to provide notice to registrant for a matter
to be brought before shareholders at the annual meeting. The amendments set this
notice  period as not less  than  ninety  (90) nor more than one  hundred-twenty
(120) days prior to the first  anniversary  date of the annual  meeting  for the
preceding  year. The amendments  also provide that, in the case of a shareholder
proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
it shall be made not later  than the close of  business  on (i) the date  ninety
(90) days prior to the meeting of shareholders to which the proposal  relates or
(ii) the  tenth day  following  the date on which  the date of such  meeting  of
shareholders  is  first  publicly  announced  or  disclosed.  In  addition,  the
amendments  eliminate a provision  of the By-Laws  permitting  loans to and loan
guarantees on behalf of officers. The registrant's restated By-Laws are attached
hereto as Exhibit 3.3.


Item 5.03           AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN
                    FISCAL YEAR.

     See disclosures set forth in Item 3.03 above.


Item 9.01.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits.

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

3.1                         Certificate of Incorporation

3.2                         Certificate of Amendment to Registrant's Certificate
                            of Incorporation

3.3                         Restated By-Laws of the Registrant






                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.


                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION


                                           By:    /S/ KAREN L. HOWARD
                                                  ------------------------------
                                           Name: Karen L. Howard
                                           Title: Vice President and Chief
                                                    Financial Officer (Principal
                                                    Financial Officer)


Dated:  JANUARY 25, 2008
        ----------------







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


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

      3.1                Certificate of Incorporation

      3.2                Certificate of Amendment to Registrant's Certificate of
                         Incorporation

      3.3                Restated By-Laws of the Registrant