Who are the top specialized lifting and rigging companies in North America?

Photo: IICC

The 2025 Specialized Lifting & Rigging 50 reports continued industry growth, particularly in total lifting capacity and size of workforce. This year, the total specialized lifting capacity increased to 1,856,949 tons, reflecting a 202,953-ton rise from 1,656,082 tons in 2024. The steady year-over-year increase indicates that rigging companies are investing in high-capacity lifting solutions to support large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. Mammoet Americas, Fagioli USA and Barnhart Crane & Rigging remain industry leaders, operating highly advanced rigging and lifting systems and leading the ranking. Bay Crane Service joins the Specialized Lifting & Rigging 50 for the first time in 2025 at Number 4. Long Beach, CA-based Bragg Companies made its debut appearance at Number 33, alongside Superior Rigging & Erecting, which claimed the 40th spot.

Workforce expansion, though modest, still played a role in this year’s ranking. The total number of employees increased from 20,781 in 2024 to 21,449 in 2025, reflecting a growth of 668 workers. This uptick is likely due to newcomers to the list and companies that are responding to the ongoing demand in construction, energy and heavy transportation sectors.

Mixed signals

Equipment trends saw mixed changes this year. The number of gantries increased slightly from 1,127 in 2024 to 1,230 in 2025, while strand jack units saw minimal growth, rising from 1,358 to 1,364. These numbers suggest that while precision lifting methods remain critical, there hasn’t been a major shift in reliance on gantry or strand jack solutions. However, “other specialized lifting equipment,” a catch-all category, grew from 6,869 units in 2024 to 10,213 in 2025. This increase points to the push for more versatile and adaptive lifting technologies to accommodate evolving lifting and rigging requirements.

Overall, the 2025 SLR50 ranking reflects steady industry progression, with moderate growth in lifting capacity, workforce numbers and equipment acquisition. While the surge in some categories was smaller than initially expected, the data still signals a resilient and forward-moving industry. As specialized lifting companies continue investing in new technologies and operational efficiency, they are well-positioned to handle the increasing complexity of global infrastructure projects in the years ahead.