Exhibit 23



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in (a) the Registration  Statement
(Form S-8 No.  333-3212)  pertaining to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation 1995
Incentive  Stock Option Plan, the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Non-Qualified
Stock Option Plan, the Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Restricted Stock Plan and
the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee Stock  Ownership Plan  Restatement
Effective April 1, 1989 of Columbus McKinnon  Corporation,  (b) the Registration
Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-81719) pertaining to the Options assumed by Columbus
McKinnon Corporation  originally granted under the G.L.  International Inc. 1997
Stock Option Plan and the Larco Industrial  Services Ltd. 1997 Stock Option Plan
and (c) the Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-107848)  pertaining to the
Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan (as amended and
restated)  and the  Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Restricted  Stock  Plan (as
amended) of our report  dated August 12,  2004,  with  respect to the  financial
statements  and schedules of the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee Stock
Ownership  Plan  included in this Annual  Report  (Form 11-K) for the year ended
March 31, 2004.



                                                 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP



Buffalo, New York
September 22, 2004