45 Years of Lifting Solutions
From Component Rebuilds to Complete Crane Systems
In 1980, G.W. Becker, Inc. began in Grove City, Pennsylvania, not as a crane manufacturer, but as a parts reseller and distributor. But it didn’t take long before we sourced hoists and trolleys from manufacturers and built the rest ourselves. We started by fabricating girders, assembling systems, and rebuilding existing cranes. It was hands-on, it was gritty, and it was the kind of work that laid the foundation for who we are today.
The 1980s were full of learning curves and breakthroughs. We weren’t just selling parts, we were solving problems. Whether it was rebuilding a 25-ton Class D crane or building our first pre-engineered overhead crane in 1981, we slowly carved out our space in the material handling industry. By the time we relocated to Sharon, PA, later that decade, we had already outgrown our early identity.
Finding Our Footing in Custom Crane Manufacturing
The 1990s brought momentum. As we took on increasingly complex rebuilds, like hot metal duty cranes, tram cars with automated dump controls, and 80-foot spans. We gained a reputation for being the company that could handle the jobs others wouldn’t touch. And in 1998, we made a bold move: purchasing our own manufacturing facility in Wheatland, PA. That decision gave us more control over quality, timelines, and design, and it opened the door to what would become our specialty: custom-built overhead cranes.
A Turning Point: Growth in the 2000s
By the early 2000s, we weren’t just rebuilding cranes, we were engineering them from the ground up. In 2000, we officially began designing and manufacturing our own overhead crane systems, and in 2001 we acquired L.M. Stevenson Co. and earned Yale/Shawbox distribution rights. Around this time, we also joined key industry organizations like CMAA and MHI, a sign of our growing credibility.
Then came 2008, a defining year. We completed our largest crane install to date: 104 cranes across three orders for a railcar manufacturing facility in Alabama. That project put us on the map in a new way. We weren’t just a regional fabricator anymore; we were competing and winning on a national scale.
Engineering the Future
In the 2010s, our engineering capabilities truly took center stage. We delivered charging cranes, coil-handling cranes, and hazardous-duty systems tailored to some of the most extreme environments in the country. In 2012, we earned our first Department of Defense contract, supporting the F-35 fighter jet program in Oklahoma City with eight cranes and runway systems.
And in 2013, we crossed the border with our first install in Mexico, expanding our international reach. That same year, we rolled out our first fully automated overhead crane, showing that our investment in smart technologies was already paying off.
By 2014, we were building systems like a 110-ton ladle crane, a 50/15-ton hazardous duty crane, and custom base-mounted hoists, which were all engineered in-house.
The Last Five Years: A Leap in Capability
If the last few decades were about gaining expertise, the 2020s have been about amplifying it.
To meet demand for more automated, high-performance systems, we’ve tackled projects like:
- 50-ton magnet-duty coil handling cranes in Blytheville, AR
- Automated tube-handling cranes and rotating lifter slab cranes
- A 40-ton hazardous environment crane delivered in 2024
- And a growing line of packaged crane systems with shorter lead times
But what we’re most excited about is what’s happening behind the scenes.
In 2024, we invested in a new CNC horizontal boring mill and a sub-arc gantry automated welder, expanding the precision and scalability of our fabrication. And in 2025, we’re taking another big step with three new machines from Mazak for our machine shop, enhancing our in-house machining capabilities like never before.
These investments aren’t just about improving our shop. They directly benefit customers by helping us control quality, reduce lead times, and expand what we can take on. Whether it’s a standard 3-ton single-girder crane or a highly engineered 250 VDC Class F hot metal crane, we’re more equipped than ever to handle your specific needs.
More Than Machines
As much as we’ve grown technologically, our values haven’t changed. We’re still committed to our customers, still rooted in our community, and still passionate about American manufacturing.
In 2024, we became a founding member of the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition (LMMC), reinforcing our role in promoting skilled trades and manufacturing careers in our region. Recently, the video created about us by local students earned the Outstanding Creativity Award in the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? contest. It was a proud achievement for the students and a meaningful reminder that we’re helping inspire the next generation of makers.
Looking Ahead
Today, we’re proud to say: we can custom-build nearly every component of a crane in-house, and our engineering team continues to grow in both size and expertise. What started as parts resales and rebuilds is now a fully integrated crane manufacturing operation. We serve customers across steel, defense, energy, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and more.
We’ve come a long way in 45 years. But the best part? We’re just getting started.
Here’s to the next 45 years of lifting what matters.
