Four U.S. tower crane companies make the world’s top 25

Shown here is the 2021 IC Tower Index, an annual ranking by International Cranes and Specialized Transport

Four U.S. companies made this year’s list of the world’s largest tower crane-owning firms in an annual ranking of 25 firms. 

The annual list is compiled by International Cranes and Specialized Transport and is based on its IC Tower Index, which is calculated using the combined total maximum load moment rating, in tonne-metres, of all the tower cranes in each company’s fleet.

Despite concerns about how a Covid-impacted year would affect the rankings, there was a rise of 11.7% in 2021. In fact, everything else is up this year too – more cranes, more employees and more company branches.

Last year the Index total passed the 5-million mark for the first time and this year it has exceeded 6 million for the first time. Among the top five companies the percentage rise is even higher than in this year’s top 20, at 14.8%.

Here’s a look at the top four U.S.-based tower crane companies. For the complete worldwide ranking, click here. 

1. Morrow Equipment - Ranked sixth on the full Index, Salem, OR-based Morrow Equipment is the exclusive North American distributor for Liebherr tower cranes. Founded in 1968, the company currently owns 569 towers across 20 branches manned by 286 employees. It’s largest tower is the 64-tonne Liebherr 710 HC-L 32/64.

2. Maxim Crane Works - Based in Fort Lupton, CO, Maxim lands at number eight on the full Index. The coast-to-coast crane rental company owns 425 towers across 63 branches with 3,500 employees. Its 60-tonne Wolff 1250B is the biggest tower in its fleet. 

3. Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. - Founded in 1916 by Henry W. Bigge as Bigge Drayage Company, family-owned Bigge currently employs 1,059 people across 21 branches. Its 40-tonne Liebherr 630 EC-H40 is the largest tower in its fleet of 135. It’s listed at number 20 on the Index.

4. ALL Family of Companies - Placing 24th out of 25 on the full Index, the ALL Family of Companies runs 33 branches operating under the ALL, Central, Dawes, Jeffers, and ALT names. Founded in 1964, the third-generation company employs 1,500 people and owns 96 towers, the largest of which is the 32-tonne Potain MR608.