Reliable Crane acquires Champion Crane

Reliable Crane Service has acquired Champion Crane Rental, based in Pacoima, CA, American Cranes & Transport has learned exclusively. Reliable has facilities in Corona, CA and Las Vegas, NV.

Champion Crane Rental brings a diverse customer base in the Los Angeles area, including the film industry and theme parks.

Since 2010, Reliable has pursued safe and quality performance within a diverse array of industries, including mobile crane rental, tower cranes, machinery moving, project management, power, wind and modular building, according to CEO and Founder Darrell Shaw.

With more than a decade of successful operation under its belt, Shaw said, “Reliable is now getting into the acquisition game – looking to do between 10 to 12 acquisitions over the next 5 to 10 years.”

Reliable purchased Bigge Crane and Rigging’s 23 tower crane units in Southern California in November 2020. The purchase of Champion represents what Shaw described as the first steps in a multi-step process.

“We’re looking to expand, and plan on doing more over the course of the next few years,” he said. “Acquiring Champion Crane was a strategic move for us, as it gave us a foothold on the north side of Los Angeles – with our primary hub on the south side in Corona. Additionally, the Champion purchase allows us another route into Southern California, and let’s everyone know we’re serious about that market.”

Completed in September, the Champion acquisition gives Reliable a larger footprint and distinctly different market.

“Champion, for the most part, enjoys a different customer base than we have,” Shaw said. “There isn’t a lot of overlap – we do a lot of utility work, and they do a lot of movie and theme park work. So, it’s a space we were wanting to get into – and an area we think is coming back post-pandemic.”

And while Champion will remain the same in regards to its nearly 40-year-old brand and reputation, Shaw said the purchase does allow Reliable to add around 25 additional assets to its fleet pf 110 cranes, and another 20 to 25 workers to its workforce of about 120. Shaw is excited to add the distinguished Champion reputation to the Reliable brand, he said.

“At the end of the day, we hope to continue the good work they’ve done and build on the brand they’ve already built for us,” he said. “We love taking the baton from Champion owner Mike Konle – we have so much respect for what they’ve done and how they’ve paved the way for us. He’s been extremely innovative over the years, and the Champion name has been synonymous with genuine service and an unwavering commitment to customer solutions. Bringing that onto our team is a giant positive for us, and only makes us better moving forward.”