North America’s top specialized lifting companies
01 March 2022
Across the board, the construction industry is seeing supply chain shortages.
This is resulting in longer wait times for equipment, increased backlogs and project delays. However, despite these issues, the specialized lifting sector is growing, boasting its highest total capacity to date on the ACT SpecializedLifting50. There is also a notable increase in employees. More specifically, there has been an impressive increase of 1,659 employees in comparison to 2021. In addition, the SpecializedLifting50 posted an index of 1,552,909 tons, increasing 60,345 tons over the 2021 index of 1,492,564.
These numbers are reassuring to the rigging industry overall, as company growth is on the up-and-up.
In 2022 we are seeing a slight increase in gantries and strand jack units, and a slight decline in other specialized lifting equipment. While many companies are continuing to streamline their fleets, machinery demand is rising slowly but steadily.
Some 578 gantries and rubber tired gantries are owned by the participating companies in the 2022 SpecializedLifting50 list. Some 1,623 strand jack units were recorded this year, as compared to 1,376 in 2021. Some 5,432 pieces of other specialized lifting equipment (not classified as a gantry or strand jack) are owned by these companies as compared to 5,815 in 2021.
With a huge infrastructure bill passed by the U.S. Congress and the waning of the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies are optimistic that there will be a big jump start in construction spending on roads, bridges, highway and other infrastructure projects.
First timers
The ACT team continually tries to cast a wide net when it comes to surveying North America’s specialized lifting sector. This year, three new companies joined the our SpecializedLifting50 ranking. This includes OXBO Mega Transport Solutions, Sarens and MEI Rigging & Crating. Both OXBO and Sarens broke into the Top 10 ranking, a major first milestone for newcomers. Arkansas-based Engineered Rigging made a significant jump from 19th place in 2021 to ranking 10th this year. Engineered Rigging almost doubled the amount of specialized lifting units in its fleet. At this rate, what could 2023 possibly have in store?
ACT began distributing survey forms for the SPECIALIZEDLIFTING50 list via email in January 2022 and followed up with phone calls and more emails in February. The companies that completed and returned these surveys over the course of the last two months were included in this year’s list.
For some companies we used their data from our 2021 list, along with other metrics. In these cases, an asterisk will appear next to that company’s name. As a result, the SPECIALIZEDLIFTING50 is an estimate.
While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information in this list, ACT, its editors and its publishers do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions. We strive to improve this list, as well as our other annual lists, every year.
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