IC100 2026: maintaining momentum

Solid and more evenly spread growth is what characterises this year’s IC100 ranking of the world’s largest crane-owning companies. Less extreme than last year but more consistent across the many parameters we measure.

The 2026 IC100 total number of entries was 211, down three on the 214 of 2025. That was despite there being six new entries, as nine existing ones were deleted due to acquisition or only having old data. The total IC Index of all 211 companies was 44,451,821 points, up 2,608,534, or 6 per cent, on the 41,843,287 total index in 2025.

The IC100 2026 ranking table. Copyright: KHL Group

But let’s focus on the top 100 – its Index total is above 94 per cent of the total number of entries anyway. So, the IC100 total Index was 41,897,458 points, up 2,576,558 points, or 6.6 %, on the 39,320,900 total of 2025. Last year it was up an arguably less sustainable 12 % on 2024.

All the other top 100 figures were up too. By the numbers, at 98,489 there were 4,602 more employees than last year, up nearly 5 %. Next, at 29,315 units, there were 1,064 more wheeled cranes, an increase of 3.8 %. Lattice cranes were up 486 units, or 5.6 %, to a total of 9,154. Last, there are 21 more depots this year among the top 100 companies, an increase of 1.3 %.

Top 20

Al Faris relocated and installed a 100 tonne carousel foundation at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was a complex operation executed using two mobile cranes, with capacities of 700 and 800 tonnes, each with luffing jibs, plus two 18 axle line columns of self propelled modular transporter (SPMT). Photo: Al Faris

Looking at just the top 20 companies the total growth was slightly lower, 5.3 %, up 1,353,549 points to a total of 26,748,432. Interestingly, that total is 64 % of the top 100 total increase. It was also where the bulk of the extra employees were: 3,346, or 73% of the total increase in the top 100. The percentage rise, at 9.5 %, was almost double the rate in the top 100.

In position

While who is where in the table is self explanatory, it is worth pointing out a few things. Most notably, at the top of the table, the gap between Mammoet, in first place and Sarens in second, has decreased enormously since last year. It is by a combination of a 195,914 point fleet reduction and a 58,682 increase, closing the gap from nearly 300,000 points last year to just 35,232 points this year. That could literally be one crane, albeit a big one.

Also continuing a relentless rise since even before its IPO in 2024, Sanghvi Movers from India gains another two places, up to third from 5th. The company says it has transitioned into an international player with an active presence across continents. Its operations now span key global markets, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Botswana.

Similarly, up one place is BMS which has been expanding worldwide, with growth in the USA and Africa, in addition to its native Denmark and wider Scandinavia.

Also on the up is Sinopec Heavy Lifting and Transportation, gaining one place to 6th this year. Another 400,000 points will be added come November when it adds one half of the 14,000 tonne super heavy lift ring crane it designed and is having built by XCMG in China.

All this activity has displaced Bucker by three places but it remains well within the top ten. Chinese company Shandong Gulf Lifting Engineering is a new entrant to the top 10 at 9, up from 12th place. Rounding out the top 10 is Bigge, having done well to move up a place.

Saraiva using a Manitowoc Model 18000 with Max-Er on a Sao Paulo subway job. Photo: Saraiva

Back into the IC100 last year, Bay Crane has made a significant further gain, up from 24th to 16th place. First of the new entries is Sumeet Infra Solutions from India, in at 35.

Next change of note is Gruas Aguado from Spain, at 41, up from 57th place. “We have made huge investments during the last five years. Since 2024 we have increased our fleet with three units of 1,000 tonne crawlers – Liebherr LR 11000 and Sany SCC10000T – plus LR 1700/1W and 2 x LG 1750 SX and LR 1600/2W, plus 14 mobile cranes between 120 and 250 tonnes,” explains Mario Aguado.

Two companies have made it into the top 100 this year. One is Irving Equipment from Canada, moving up to 97 from 108. The other is Tecmaco Integral, making an even bigger jump, to 98th place from 110. A major boost for Tecmaco was the addition of a new 3,000 tonne capacity Zoomlion XCA3000 wheeled mobile crane on a ten axle carrier.

To assemble a 360 tonne gantry crane during ongoing logistics operations at Industriepark Höchst in Germany, BKL Frankfurt devised an ingenious lift concept involving five wheeled mobile cranes, ranging from 230 to 450 tonnes. They were a 230 tonne capacity Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1, a 250 tonne Grove GMK5250XL-1, a 300 tonne LTM 1300-6.2 and two 450 tonne all terrain cranes – an LTM 1450-8.1 and a GMK6450-1. Photo: BKL

IC100 2026

Wheeled cranes: 1,064 more than last year, up 3.8 %.

Lattice cranes: 486 more than last year, up 5.6 %.

Employees: 4,602 more than last year, up 4.9 %.

Depots: 21 more than last year, up 1.3 %.