STATE FOCUS | INDIANA
Indiana is one of the strongest states for overhead crane manufacturers, distributors and service organisations.
spreader beams and lifting devices, eventually becoming a regional leader in overhead crane systems. Currently, Crane 1 Services in Indianapolis is a notable provider of custom runway systems, repairs and OSHA inspections. CraneWerks was established in 1997 in
Morristown. Today, it works with an independent dealer network to supply overhead cranes and related lifting equipment for commercial and industrial applications nationwide. Its product range includes bridge cranes with capacities from half a tonne to 80t and spans up to 104ft, manufactured in single-girder, double-girder and box-girder formats. It also continues to provide equipment installations, upgrades and services in cooperation with partner firms through its dealer- only network across the US.
In the 21st century, Indiana continues to be a major Midwestern hub for overhead lifting technology and modern material-handling solutions. Hoosier Crane Service Co., founded in 2002, now serves both statewide industries and a nationwide customer base for new crane installations and parts. It builds box girder cranes for its own customers and for other crane dealers and also operates as a master parts depot for most brands. From its four locations it covers all of Indiana, as well as parts of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky.
Indiana remains one of the strongest states for overhead crane manufacturers, distributors and service organisations, which is thanks to its varied industrial base, and the overhead crane industry density is among the highest anywhere in the nation.
A hotbed for major projects The many advantages of operating in Indiana – low corporate income tax, low personal income tax, the low cost of living to attract employees and its strategic location – have helped the state’s economy to remain one the strongest in the Midwest. Furthermore, it is a right-to-work state, meaning laws have been enacted to ensure that employees are not required to join a labour union or pay union dues. There are plenty of big projects creating demand for crane and hoist services, not least those arising from the ongoing expansion of the manufacturing sector in general, which already accounts for more than 25% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Advanced manufacturing alone accounts for roughly 26% of all economic activity in the state. Nevertheless, there are certainly challenges
that are holding back faster growth, and Harkrider is quick to point to lower fuel prices, reduced tariff instability, faster introduction
of new technologies and more investment in workforce training and talent attraction as key factors that would stimulate growth. The talent issue is of particular concern. The
available workforce is shrinking, with the number of skilled trades people in sharp decline. Many people with industry knowledge are ageing out and retiring. To address this issue, Hoosier Crane
has started its own State-Accredited Youth Apprenticeship Program to provide paid on-the- job training, mentorship from industry experts, industry certifications and a direct pathway to full-time employment. The aim is to open up real opportunities for long-term career growth in a way that strongly aligns with Indiana’s state workforce initiatives. The impact of this programme, which is heralded as one of Indiana’s strongest employer- led apprenticeship pipelines in the industrial trades, has been to strengthen the internal talent pipeline and improve culture, retention and team collaboration. The state is working hard to expand high-school apprenticeships to 50,000 students by 2034, and Hoosier Crane has taken concrete action to be among the leading industrial employers supporting this movement. As graduates secure long-term technical jobs in a growing industrial sector, with clear
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