THE INTERVIEW
We, however, build from the ground up. Our largest acquisition had only a few more than 20 employees, so we have had to work hard to implement systems that are helpful as you scale. It is a matter of prioritising, and that is what we
Company profile
CraneTech is a leading full-service American crane company with more than 30 locations across the US. Over the past four years, CraneTech has grown from a small mom and pop with 18 employees to nearly 400 today with industry-leading technical talent. It provides crane installations, new equipment, modernisations, inspections and repairs for clients across the US with 15 offices. Established in 2004, the company has been committed to offering top-quality products, superior training and expert support to ensure the success of its customers. It prides itself on its dedication to safety, customer satisfaction and employee well-being. The company’s mission is to constantly
exceed our customers’ expectations by providing them with the highest quality service and support, and its core values are safety, honour, integrity and pride in their work, which comes from a deep understanding of the needs of its customers.
have learnt along the way. We learn something from every acquisition, and usually that lesson reinforces our strategy. We have learnt that the most important part of the diligence process is the people and understanding what makes them tick. We have to identify who holds the customer relationships, and who can drive further growth. We are always trying to find opportunities where the owners are really invested in their people.
Can you tell us about your failures and how you overcame challenges? We've made many mistakes along the way and there has been no shortage of challenges. As an example, we have been working very hard to upgrade our systems along the way. We were just 18 employees four years ago. Today, we're almost 400. The upgrading of systems is incremental and it is still happening. We are coming off the back of a big ERP migration. But most of the businesses we have purchased are small, typically an owner and a small team of technicians. If a private equity fund is making a purchase in this sector it will start by buying a big company as a platform.
What do you like about this industry? I've spoken a lot about our people – and that is first. But the customers are doing some unbelievable things. My favourite thing to do is accompany technicians to job sites and get a glimpse into the industries that are truly the backbone of our country. We service cranes that lift everything from rocket ships to nuclear reactors. There are some aspects of this industry that are fascinating and some that are annoying. It is a very challenging sector, especially for our employees. It is not rainbows and cupcakes. Our technicians work their asses off. They are frequently required to travel, and they can often be called away from
Gathering the best people and placing them in the same team is one of the keys to CraneTech’s success.
38 Summer 2025 |
ochmagazine.com
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