STATE FOCUS | FLORIDA
Built strong to weather the storm
With strong economic prospects but also some major challenges ahead, Florida is a place of contradictions. It prospers but faces a skills shortage, and the many opportunities in its infrastructure development depend greatly on the future of the US economy as a whole. OCH looks at the industry’s prospects in the Orange State.
F
lorida, officially the Sunshine State, is known by many names, perhaps reflecting its many different characters, geographies and industries. Its unofficial nicknames include the Peninsula State as it juts out into Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other; the Alligator State, for the many reptilian residents of the Everglades; and the Orange State, because of its abundant citrus industry and orange groves. The population, known for embracing an
outdoor, water-centric lifestyle, are often portrayed as laid-back and relaxed due to the state’s warm, sunny climate, and they are recognised for being diverse due to the mix of southern, Caribbean and Latin influences. But the ‘Florida Man’ media trope aside, and the state’s reputation for eccentricity, and you find an industrious state that is working hard to develop opportunities for the future of its local businesses.
Florida may be justifiably seen as a retirement
and tourism hub – it does have a large retiree population and its beaches make it a major destination for vacationers, not to mention Walt Disney World in Orlando – but it is so much more.
Investing in infrastructure The crane and hoist industry is essential to fulfilling the state’s appetite for infrastructure development. All signs point to a significant growth opportunity in the next few years, as activity in Florida continues to be driven strongly by infrastructure expansion, the adoption of ‘smart’ lifting technology and by consolidation among major industry players, all of which are strong indicators of growth potential in the near future. One key area for investment is port modernisation, which has seen significant expenditure on port cranes by The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), Florida’s largest container port by volume and one of the nation’s leading vehicle-handling ports, which is significantly increasing its heavy-lift capacity; Port
Tampa Bay, which ordered two new ship-to-shore cranes for delivery in 2026; and PortMiami, which is investing in cargo yard enhancements and densification, partly through its Electric Rubber- Tired Gantry (eRTGs) Crane Project. For the overhead crane and hoist sector, the
growing level of investment in manufacturing and logistics will have major implications for warehousing and other key developments. Florida’s manufacturing sector is showing signs of an uptick in investment, with aerospace, defence and automation providing the demand. Furthermore, the expansion of warehousing and logistics hubs, not only in ports but in other key centres, could significantly boost demand for overhead cranes for material handling. Among the key developments are Amazon’s new payload processing facility at Kennedy Space Center for Project Kuiper, the growth of Americas Gateway Logistics Center – a 6,700-acre multi-modal industrial park in Moore Haven, Glades County, Florida, designed to serve as an international logistics hub – and a major logistics expansion in Marion County are just a few examples. The Amazon Kuiper Payload Processing Facility, for example, includes ten overhead bridge cranes, ranging from five to 60 tonnes in capacity, that are used for handling payload sections and fairings. At the Americas Gateway Logistics Center, rail-mounted or rubber-tired gantry cranes are used in container yards for stacking and manoeuvring. The aerospace and defence sector has been
a key source of work on Florida’s Space Coast for Equipment Fabricators (EFI), based in Cocoa, near the John F. Kennedy Space Center. The company is active designs and manufactures specialised overhead cranes for Boeing, Lockheed Martin and the US Navy. Known for custom heavy- lifting equipment, including bridge cranes and specialised machinery, it has recently been providing critical support for Blue Origin.
ochmagazine.com | Spring 2026 43
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