Description of Business	9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Description Of Business [Abstract]
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block	1. Description of Business The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Columbus McKinnon Corporation (the Company) at December 31, 2011, the results of its operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, have been included. Results for the period ended December 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2012. The balance sheet at March 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Certain prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform to current year reporting presentations. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Columbus McKinnon Corporation annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2011. The Company is a leading designer, marketer and manufacturer of material handling products and services which efficiently and safely move, lift, position and secure material. Key products include hoists, rigging tools, cranes, and actuators. The Company's material handling products are sold globally, principally to third party distributors through diverse distribution channels, and to a lesser extent directly to end-users. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, approximately 52% and 53% of sales were to customers in the U.S., respectively.

Description of Business

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block

1. Description of Business

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Columbus McKinnon Corporation (the Company) at December 31, 2011, the results of its operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, have been included. Results for the period ended December 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2012. The balance sheet at March 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Certain prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform to current year reporting presentations. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Columbus McKinnon Corporation annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2011.

The Company is a leading designer, marketer and manufacturer of material handling products and services which efficiently and safely move, lift, position and secure material. Key products include hoists, rigging tools, cranes, and actuators. The Company's material handling products are sold globally, principally to third party distributors through diverse distribution channels, and to a lesser extent directly to end-users. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, approximately 52% and 53% of sales were to customers in the U.S., respectively.

- Definition

Description containing the entire organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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