Who are America’s Top Mill-Duty Crane Manufacturers?
This article looks at America's leading mill-duty overhead crane manufacturers
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
In demanding industrial environments like steel mills, foundries, ports, lumber mills, and large-scale manufacturing plants, overhead cranes are expected to withstand extreme operational stress, continuous or near-continuous operation, heavy loads, and harsh conditions.
These are Class D, E, and F overhead cranes, but are commonly called process cranes or mill-duty cranes out in the field.
While there’s no shortage of overhead crane manufacturers, very few have the resources to manufacture mill-duty cranes. These systems can cost companies millions of dollars to purchase, not to mention the maintenance and general upkeep expenses. And they can take months (sometimes years) to build.
However, the increased productivity, improved employee safety, and higher efficiency ratings companies experience after purchasing them are worth it.
If your company needs a mill-duty crane, this article will lay out America’s top mill-duty crane manufacturers. This list is not meant to be a power ranking. Instead, the companies will be listed in alphabetical order.
Table of Contents
- When Does an Overhead Bridge Crane Become a Mill-Duty Crane?
- What are the CMAA Classes for Overhead Cranes?
- The Top Mill-Duty Overhead Crane Manufacturers
- Final Thoughts: Why Mazzella Makes a Great Mill-Duty Crane Partner
- FAQs About Mill-Duty Overhead Cranes
When Does an Overhead Bridge Crane Become a Mill-Duty Crane?
Bridge cranes fall into two categories based on their service, capacity, and environment. Common terms for the two different types of cranes are “Process” cranes and “Modular” cranes.
A process crane is a heavy-duty crane that’s in constant, or near-constant, operation. They’re typically a top-running, double girder design and can perform high-capacity lifts or perform a very specific task repeatedly. Process cranes are found in places like automotive assembly plants, steel mills, container yards, and lumber mills.
They perform anywhere from 10-20 lifts per hour at around 50-75% of their rated capacity, to continuous operation at full capacity. While Class D cranes can sometimes be mill-duty, Class E and F make up the majority of mill-duty cranes in service.
Modular cranes, conversely, are typically found in smaller manufacturing facilities, smaller-sized mills, or machine shops, and have a design consisting of a more base-level hoist, trolley, and bridge. They are typically Class C and D and are being used at around 40% capacity.
What are the CMAA Classes for Overhead Cranes?
The Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) classifies overhead cranes by duty cycle. Mill-duty cranes fall into the three highest classifications:
CMAA Class D – Heavy Service
- Typical use: Heavy machine shops, foundries, steel warehouses
- Duty cycle: 10–20 lifts/hour, loads frequently at 50% capacity
- Operation: One to two shifts daily
CMAA Class E – Severe Service
- Typical use: Scrap yards, cement mills, container handling
- Duty cycle: 20+ lifts/hour at or near rated capacity
- Operation: 24/7 continuous operation
CMAA Class F – Continuous Severe Service
- Typical use: Steel mills (hot metal handling), major assembly lines
- Duty cycle: Continuous operation at rated capacity
- Standards: Often built to AISE/AIST Standard No. 6 for steel mill service
Selecting the right classification balances upfront investment against long-term reliability, maintenance costs, and safety requirements.
The Top Mill-Duty Overhead Crane Manufacturers
DeShazo Crane Company
Location: Bessemer, Alabama | Website: deshazo.com
DeShazo is an Alabama-based overhead crane manufacturer with thousands of cranes operating worldwide across six continents. The company has a long history serving The South’s largest automotive, mining, steel, and aerospace operations.
According to their website, Deshazo custom designs and manufactures every component in their cranes. They also boast over 60 years of crane experience in an industry-heavy part of the country.
Key Capabilities:
- Full range from light industrial to Class F mill-duty cranes
- Double and single girder configurations
- In-house built-up trolley hoists with custom gear trains
- Complete runway system engineering and fabrication
- Reverse-engineering of parts for any crane brand
G.W. Becker, Inc.
Headquarters: Hermitage, Pennsylvania | Website: gwbcrane.com
G.W. Becker offers both economical packaged equipment and fully custom-engineered solutions. The company designs cranes to CMAA Specification 70 and AIST Technical Report 6, covering all duty cycles through Class F. They have proven expertise in specialized applications like metals processing, oil & gas, and hazardous environments. They also offer flexibility between pre-engineered and custom solutions.
Key Capabilities:
- Double girder cranes across all CMAA classes
- High-capacity cranes (80+ tons)
- Long-span configurations (60–150 ft)
- Hazardous/explosion-proof environments
- Magnet and mill-duty configurations
Konecranes
Headquarters: Global: Hyvinkää, Finland; American: Springfield, OH | Website: https://www.konecranes.com/en-us
Konecranes is a globally recognized leader in the lifting industry, producing mill-duty overhead cranes designed for CMAA Class D, E, and F applications. Global scale combined with deep engineering expertise. Their heavy-duty designs prioritize durability, safety, and efficiency for production-critical environments like steel mills and foundries.
In 2023, Konecranes acquired Whiting, a well-recognized industrial and nuclear crane company with over 100 years of experience in steel mills, automotive plants, fossil fuel plants, metal service centers, and hydro-electric and nuclear power plants.
Key Capabilities:
- Heavy-duty cranes for continuous, high-load operations
- Specialized hoists (HMI H4/H5, FEM 2m-6 classifications)
- Durable end trucks, powerful motors, high-endurance bearings
- Solutions aligned with CMAA, HMI, and FEM international standards
Mazzella
Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio | Website: mazzellacompanies.com
Mazzella is a leading U.S. manufacturer of CMAA Class D, E, and F overhead cranes, with proven experience designing, engineering, and installing cranes in steel mills, foundries, automotive plants, and power plants. For decades, Mazzella has established itself as one of America’s premier, family-owned, and privately held overhead crane manufacturers.
Beyond manufacturing, Mazzella is known for extensive industry education and a comprehensive approach to lifting solutions. Mazzella also offers 24/7 emergency crane services with commercially available overhead crane parts. We also offer customers overhead crane training, a full slate of premier brand rigging products, and crane modernization and upgrade projects.
Mazzella offers customers a unique one-stop-shop approach—from design and manufacturing through installation, training, and long-term service. In 2024, Mazzella acquired Piedmont Hoist & Crane, a leading hoist and mill-duty crane manufacturer based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This acquisition positioned Mazzella as one of America’s preeminent mill-duty crane manufacturers.
Key Capabilities:
- Custom-engineered mill-duty cranes
- Complete runway system engineering and fabrication
- Carrier of OEM and aftermarket parts
- Mill-duty cranes built to CMAA and AISE standards
- In-house engineering team
- Crane modernization and upgrade offerings
Morgan Engineering
Headquarters: Alliance, Ohio | Website: https://www.morganengineering.com/
Morgan Engineering is a leading overhead bridge crane manufacturer specializing in cranes for the heavy metals industries, specifically charge, ladle, and steel coil cranes.
Founded in 1868, Morgan Engineering has a longstanding reputation with the Midwest’s largest steel mills and refineries. They are also a leader in designing and engineering below-the-hook lifting devices like c-hooks, buckets, and coil tongs.
According to their website, Morgan offers structural and mechanical upgrades to increase crane capacity and withstand higher service duties.
Key Capabilities:
- Custom-engineered mill-duty cranes
- Large-scale crane modernizations and upgrades
- Electrical crane upgrades (anti-collision systems, vibration analysis, etc.)
- Charge cranes, coil cranes, and ladle cranes
Simmers Crane & Engineering
Headquarters: Salem, Ohio | Website: simmerscrane.com
Simmers Crane operates as a crane service and engineering firm, helping clients with cranes across all CMAA Classes (A–F) and AISE TR#6 service classifications.
Their engineering expertise is invaluable for companies in demanding sectors like steel production where even miniscule engineering flaws can lead to premature failure or excessive costs.
Key Capabilities:
- Crane classification and specification consulting
- Engineering services for proper duty cycle identification
- Crane modernization and repair
- Bridge between operational needs and technical specifications
Virginia Crane (Foley Material Handling Co.)
Headquarters: Ashland, Virginia | Website: https://virginiacrane.com/
A part of Foley Material Co Inc., Virginia Crane has built a strong reputation providing high-quality overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and stacker cranes for paper mills, railroads, shipyards, and power companies.
They also offer customers crane service, OEM and aftermarket parts, hoists, and trolleys.
Key Capabilities:
- Custom overhead cranes; Class A-F
- Transfer cars and tables for the railroad industry
- Carrier of OEM and aftermarket parts
- Controls
- In-house engineering team
- Crane service team
Zenar Corporation
Headquarters: Oak Creek, Wisconsin | Website: zenarcrane.com
Zenar manufactures custom overhead material handling equipment with a focus on complete in-house production. Founded in 1972, Zenar manufactures all critical components in-house for consistent quality and system performance. This is a huge benefit for heavy-duty cranes, where component integrity is crucial for longevity. They can also assist in product add-ons like cabs, hoists, and electrical components, and have extensive experience in heavy-duty manufacturing and steel applications.
Key Capabilities:
- Custom overhead cranes
- Gantry and semi-gantry cranes
- Coil carts
- Below-the-hook lifting devices
- Full CNC machining, milling, boring, and lathe capabilities
Final Thoughts: Why Mazzella Makes a Great Mill-Duty Crane Partner
Choosing the right mill-duty crane manufacturer depends on your specific application, duty cycle requirements, and operational environment. Whether you need a fully custom Class F crane for 24/7 steel mill operations or a Class D solution for heavy machine shop use, these manufacturers offer proven expertise in high-performance overhead lifting.
Key considerations when selecting a manufacturer include:
- Required CMAA classification (D, E, or F)
- Capacity and span requirements
- Environmental factors (heat, hazardous materials, outdoor use)
- In-house engineering and manufacturing capabilities
- Service, training, and long-term support offerings
- Commercially available components
- Complete set of fabrication drawings
It is best to schedule consultations with a few manufacturers to look at your facility and provide their expert opinion and go through your unique work environment.
Each company on this list has something to offer, but if you’re looking for a partner that can help you through every step of the crane buying process, and all your lifting and rigging needs, Mazzella is ready to help. Contact our team to schedule a consultation.
FAQs About Mill-Duty Overhead Cranes
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