When you need to hoist and move heavy objects, a crane can meet your needs. Cranes use a pulley system, redistributing force in different directions to help lift and lower loads.
There are many types of cranes, each designed for different functions and tasks. For example, carry deck cranes are generally used in moderate material handling jobs, while tower cranes are used when building large structures.
With so many diverse needs to serve, it’s no wonder the crane industry is expansive. If you feel overwhelmed trying to compare all the cranes out there, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we rank the world’s top crane manufacturing companies by their total crane revenue and go over the types of cranes they make.
| Crane manufacturer | Crane revenue (in billions U.S. dollars) |
Headquarters |
| Xuzhou Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd (XCMG) | 5.66 | Xuzhou, China |
| Zoomlion | 5.45 | Changsha, China |
| Liebherr | 4.33 | Bulle, Switzerland |
| Konecranes PLC | 3.73 | Hyvinkää, Finland |
| Zenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (ZPMC) | 3.43 | Shanghai, China |
| SANY Heavy Equipment Co., Ltd | 3.43 | Changsha, China |
| Cargotec | 2.52 | Helsinki, Finland |
| Manitowoc Cranes | 1.70 | Wisconsin, USA |
| Tadano | 1.63 | Kagawa, Japan |
| Palfinger | 1.12 | Salzburg, Austria |
1. Xuzhou Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd (XCMG)
XCMG is a Chinese construction machinery company. It creates machinery for many applications including roadwork, mining, and concrete work. XCMG is ranked as the third-largest construction company in the world. One of its best-known offerings is a high-powered, all-terrain 1,200-ton telescopic crane that uses a global self-folding special boom, powered by wind.
- Headquarters: Xuzhou, China
- Founded in: 1943
- Total revenue from cranes: $5.66 billion
- Website: https://www.xcmg.com/
Here are a few standout crane models that XCMG produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| XGC88000 | Crawler crane | 3600 | 120 |
| XLC 220 | Crawler crane | 220 | 83 |
| XCR120 | Rough terrain crane | 120 | 50 |
| XCT50Y | Telescopic crane | 50 | 43.3 |
| XGC45 | Crawler crane | 45 | 37 |
2. Zoomlion
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. develops equipment for multiple industries, including construction, engineering, and agriculture. They’re headquartered in China but have branches in more than 40 countries. In 2022, they launched the ZAT24000H, an all-terrain crane with the world’s largest hoisting capacity in tonnage.
- Headquarters: Changsha, China
- Founded in: 1992
- Total revenue from cranes: $5.45 billion
- Website: http://en.zoomlion.com/
Here are a few crane models that Zoomlion produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| ZTC1100R | Telescopic crane | 121 | 58.5 |
| ZCT900V | Crawler crane | 90 | 47 |
| ZRT600E532 | Rough terrain crane | 66 | 45 |
| ZRT400V432 | Rough terrain crane | 44 | 33 |
| R370-20RB | Tower crane | 20 | 80 |
3. Liebherr
Liebherr is a Swiss manufacturer. They’re best known for their heavy-duty offshore cranes, such as the CAL 64000 model. In general, they produce a wide range of cargo handling equipment, including floating cranes, along with crane parts and equipment.
- Headquarters: Bulle, Switzerland
- Founded in: 1949
- Total revenue from cranes: $4.33 billion
- Website: https://www.liebherr.com/
Here are a few standout crane models that Liebherr produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| CAL 64000 | Floating crane | 1,200 | 108 |
| LTM 1750-9.1 | Telescopic crane | 800 | 52 |
| LR 1110 | Crawler crane | 110 | 71 |
| LRT 1090-2.1 | Rough terrain crane | 90 | 47 |
| 85 EC-B 5 FR | Tower crane | 5.5 | N/A |
4. Konecranes PLC
Konecranes PLC specializes in overhead cranes, providing several variations including rope hoist, chain hoist, portable, gantry, and wall-mounted console cranes. Features like sway control and target positioning help enhance safety and productivity when using their cranes.
- Headquarters: Hyvinkää, Finland
- Founded in: 1994
- Total revenue from cranes: $3.73 billion
- Website: https://www.konecranes.com/en-us
Here are a few crane models that Konecranes PLC produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| SM1208 (M3 Duty Class) |
Overhead crane | 200 | N/A |
| R-1 Rotating portal woodyard crane | Overhead crane | 14 | 61 |
| LB-1 Log boom woodyard crane | Overhead crane | 14 | 56 |
| CXT Gantry crane | Overhead crane | 12.5 | N/A |
| CXT Explorer | Overhead crane | 5 | 5 |
5. Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (ZPMC)
Known for their steel-structure, large-scale container cranes, Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. is a crane industry leader. Responding to the increase in large-scale containers across many industries, they specialize in ship-to-shore gantry cranes, selling their equipment in more than 100 countries.
The cranes are generally delivered to each port and are assembled on ships. They’re operated using Chinese-made software.
As of 2007, 50% of the roughly 4,000 existing container cranes worldwide came from ZPMC. In the US, ZPMC cranes make up nearly 80% of the ship-to-shore cranes in use.
- Headquarters: Shanghai, China
- Founded in: 1992
- Total revenue from cranes: $3.44 billion
Website: https://zpmcusa.com/
6. SANY Heavy Equipment Co., Ltd.
SANY is the world’s third-largest engineering machinery manufacturer. They provide a wide range of construction machinery, including excavators, road equipment, cranes, and many other machines.
According to SANY, the SANY SCC9800TM set a record for having the largest lifting capacity of any mobile crane ever recorded, with a maximum lifting capacity of over 98,000TM.
- Headquarters: Changsha, China
- Founded in: 1989
- Total revenue from cranes: $3.43 billion
- Website: https://www.sanyglobal.com/
Here are a few standout crane models that SANY produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| SCE1350A-EV | Crawler crane | 135 | 76 |
| STC600C5 | Telescopic crane | 60 | 45.5 |
| SFT1100
(T80108-50) |
Tower crane | 50 | N/A |
| SRC500T | Rough terrain crane | 50 | 45 |
| SPS8000 | Truck-mounted crane | 3.6 | 10.4 |
7. Cargotec
Cargotec Corporation was formed in June 2005, the result of the demerger of the Kone Corporation into two companies (Cargotec and KONE).
Cargotec itself is composed of three companies: Macgregor, Hiab, and Kalmar. Each company specializes in creating equipment for certain environments. Macgregor produces floating cranes and equipment for floating cranes. Hiab produces truck-mounted cranes for various applications, like forestry, construction, and roadwork. And Kalmer produces overhead cranes, ship-to-shore cranes, and forklift trucks designed for the cargo industry.
- Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
- Founded in: 2005
- Total revenue from cranes: $2.52 billion
- Website: https://www.cargotec.com/
Here are a few crane models that Cargotec produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| HIAB X-CLX 328 EP-2 | Truck mounted crane | 30.3 | 8 |
| HIAB X-HiPro 232 E-3 | Truck mounted crane | 19 | 10.6 |
| HIAB iX.142 HIPRO B-2 | Truck mounted crane | 13.6 | 8.8 |
| HIAB X-DUO 128 | Truck mounted crane | 12.4 | 15.1 |
| LOGLIFT 18Z | Truck mounted crane | 5.5 | 10.4 |
8. Manitowoc Cranes
Manitowoc is an American crane manufacturer and a leading provider of mobile cranes. They also produce a variety of rough terrain, all-terrain, truck-mounted, military, industrial, and telescoping crawler cranes.
Manitowoc manufactures two different variations of tower cranes: a self-erecting crane and a top-slewing crane. The self-erecting crane is stationary, easy to install and remotely control, and suitable for smaller job sites with restricted space. The top-slewing crane is more suitable for large industrial jobs that need a high lifting capacity at height, especially for sites that are high up or spread out over wide areas.
- Headquarters: Wisconsin, USA
- Founded in: 1902
- Total revenue from cranes: $1.7 billion
- Website: https://www.manitowoc.com/
Here are a few crane models that Manitowoc Cranes produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| GMK3060-2 | Telescopic crane | 60 | 40 |
| GHC50 | Crawler crane | 45 | 30.4 |
| TSM500-2 | Truck mounted crane | 36.3 | 29 |
| RT530E-2 | Rough terrain crane | 30 | 29 |
| GCD15 | Carrydeck crane | 13.6 | 15.4 |
9. Tadano
Tadano is a Japanese company that produces a wide range of cranes for any type of terrain, application, or scenario. Their leading crane is the rough-terrain crane, often used in large processing plants. Their mobile cranes also account for 56% of the total demand in North America.
- Headquarters: Kagawa, Japan
- Founded in: 1948
- Total revenue from cranes: $1.63 billion
- Website: https://www.tadano.com/
Here are a few crane models that Tadano produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| AC 9.700-1 | Telescopic crane | 800 | 60 |
| GTC-1600 | Crawler crane | 160 | 61 |
| AC 3.055-1 | Telescopic crane | 60 | 50 |
| GTC-550 | Crawler crane | 55 | 34.5 |
| GR-350XL | Rough terrain crane | 35 | 31 |
10. Palfinger
Palfinger, an Austrian company, is one of the leading truck equipment manufacturers in the world, producing mostly truck-mounted cranes. They’re well known for their hydraulic knuckle boom cranes, their core product line. These cranes have booms that can fold back like a finger, providing versatile movement and maneuverability.
- Headquarters: Salzburg, Austria
- Founded in: 1932
- Total revenue from cranes: $1.12 billion
- Website: https://www.palfinger.com/en-us
Here are a few crane models that Palfinger produces.
| Model | Type of crane | Maximum load capacity (tons) | Maximum boom length (meters) |
| PK 135.002 TEC 7 | Truck-mounted cranes | 33.1 | 34.7 |
| PK 78002 SH High Performance | Truck-mounted cranes | 27.6 | 25.1 |
| PK 32080 | Truck-mounted cranes | 9.4 | 24.9 |
| PK 7.501 SLD 5 | Truck-mounted cranes | 3.6 | 12.9 |
| PC I500 Compact | Truck-mounted cranes | 1.1 | 4.2 |
How to Choose the Right Crane
Finding the right crane for you depends on your specific project scope and needs. Here are some factors to consider when you’re looking for a crane:
- Assess your jobsite. Make sure the crane you choose is suited to the conditions of your jobsite. If you’re working near a shoreline, for example, you might want to go with a floating crane or gantry crane. If your terrain is uneven, you may need a rough-terrain machine.
- Determine the height and lifting capacity requirements. Certain cranes, like the SANY SCC9800TM, can have a lifting capacity as high as 4,500 tons. Other cranes are designed to handle lighter loads. Either way, it’s important to identify the lifting capacity and height needs for your project so you can find a machine with matching specs.
- Understand the difference between mobile vs. fixed cranes. Fixed cranes can generally carry and hoist heavier materials than mobile cranes. While mobile cranes may have a lower height and lifting capacity limit, they are portable and maneuverable.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Crane?
The total cost to rent a crane depends on many factors, such as where you live, the rental duration, the type of crane, the current crane market, and the lifting capacity of the crane. Typically, small mobile cranes can cost as low as $200 per day to rent, while large tower cranes can cost around $10,000 per day to rent.
Looking To Rent a Carry Deck Crane?
If you need to rent a crane, you’ve come to the right place. With models ranging from 2.5 tons to 30 tons in capacity, BigRentz has all your equipment rental needs covered.
