At ConExpo 2023 USA-based crane provider Bigge has announced the acquisition of the majority stake in Empire Crane Company – a full-service crane sales and repair company headquartered in upstate New York.

The alliance means Bigge's fleet of over 1,800 cranes and 21 maintenance facilities is now even more readily available to customers on the East Coast.

Bigge says this new partnership is a milestone for both companies and that it will benefit crane buyers worldwide with its true coast-to-coast offering.

This strategic relationship is designed to give customers access to more inventory and reduce freight costs associated with shipping equipment nationwide. Bigge's fleet includes equipment from Tadano, Kobelco, Liebherr, Manitowoc, Potain, Peiner, Terex, Comedil, Broderson, Merlo, Magni, Xtreme, Manitex, and Jekko.

“I’ve known Paul and Luke [at Empire] for over 20 years,” said Bigge's CEO, Weston Settlemier. “They’re the two most trusted Principals in the crane and equipment sales business. Furthermore, the Lonergans are the two best partners Bigge has ever had. I personally have been promoting the benefits of principled partnerships for over 12 years and the Bigge/Empire collaboration will be the standard by which all future partnerships are judged.”

Empire's President Paul Lonergan echoed Settlemier’s sentiments saying, "We are thrilled to join forces with Bigge – the pillar of excellence in the crane business for over a century, and, like us, to be in business with a family-owned company with common business values. This strategic alliance provides our customers access to Bigge's extensive sales inventory and over a century’s experience building and maintaining the Perfect Fleet of cranes."

Bigge and Empire Crane will be co-exhibitors at the ConExpo conference in Las Vegas, NV from March 14-18, 2023. Please join them at Booth F9541 in the Festival Grounds to discuss this exciting new partnership and how it will benefit their customers.