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110+ Years of Experience

About CES

Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. is one of North America’s most trusted manufacturers of overhead cranes and hoists.

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Who Is CES?

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Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. is one of North America’s largest and oldest manufacturers of overhead cranes and Jib Cranes. We design, build, install and service overhead crane lifting solutions including jib cranes, monorails, & bridge cranes. CES is committed to working with customers to find the right solution for their crane and hoist needs.

We have a long history dating back to 1917 of providing quality lifting solutions to our customers. We have had several names in the past including: Washington Equipment, WECO, CES Material Handling, Abell-Howe and now Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. Our dedicated staff of experienced crane & hoist personnel will work carefully to ensure the right crane or hoist system is provided for your application.

CES is the exclusive manufacturer of all Abell-Howe base mounted and wall mounted jib cranes. They are engineered for durability and for industrial applications, made in the USA.

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Reputation Background
Reputation CMAA

Members Since 1980

Reputation Years of Service

Quality Craftmanship and Service

Reputation Vetern Owned

Serivce-Disabled Veteran-Owned

Reputation Registered

Professional Engineering Registered

Timeline

A History of Excellence

Placed

The consolidation of Abell-Howe Company and Washington Equipment Company (WECO), created a combined diversity of application expertise and markets to make Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. which is uniquely qualified to provide best-in-class crane and hoist equipment manufacturing and servicing.

  • 1917 – Abell-Howe Company is formed in Chicago, IL by Oliver Abell & Glenn Howe.
  • 1935 – Abell-Howe Co. is purchased by M. O. Haeger.
  • 1950’s – Abell-Howe Co. moves manufacturing for Cranes, Runways and Jib Cranes to Forest Park, IL with a 90,000 Sq Ft Manufacturing Facility.
  • 1960’s – Jib Crane Products are originally designed and produced.
  • 1970’s – Abell-Howe Spider-Jib System is introduced – linking up several jib cranes into one system.
  • 1980’s – Abell-Howe Introduces our Marine STAK-MASTER for Boat Handling and Storage systems.
  • 1982 – Washington Equipment Company is formed in the Peoria, IL area.  This company is also known as WECO.
  • 1985 – Washington Equipment Company moves to former A. O. Smith facility in Eureka, IL – which is now our home.
  • 1995 – Our Service Office in the Quad Cities is Established giving us a Peoria Service Branch and a Quad Cities Service Branch which is now located in Davenport, IA.
  • 1998 – Abell-Howe Company is purchased by Columbus McKinnon Corporation.
  • 1999 –  Washington Equipment Company is purchased by Columbus McKinnon Corporation.
  • 2002 – Abell-Howe and Washington Equipment are combined into one entity known as Crane Equipment & Service, Inc.
  • 2004 – Abell-Howe production at our Forest Park, IL plant is discontinued and production of all products including Jib Cranes moves to our Eureka, IL facility.
  • 2019 – Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. is purchased from Columbus McKinnon Corporation and becomes it’s own entity.  Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. is the manufacturer of Abell-Howe Cranes.
  • 2021 – VM Hoist & Crane from Cedar Rapids, IA merges with Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. – strengthening our position in the Iowa area.  The VM service capabilities expand our footprint.  Our In-House Engineering and Manufacturing strengthens VM Hoists ability to service their customers.
  • 2021 – Pabian Enterprises merged with Crane Equipment & Service, Inc.  We opened a new Service Branch in LaSalle, IL to better serve the Pabian Customers.
  • 2022 – Expanding our Service capabilities to the West with a new Omaha Service Branch opened in Nebraska.
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How Can We Help You?

Our experts are ready to help you with any crane or hoist need that you have.

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