Friday roundup: tower cranes in North America, SC&RA advocacy at a glance, ‘Shawshank’ celebration, top crane manufacturers by revenue

Crane & Transport Briefing started the week with a look at 2024’s standout tower crane debuts in North America.

Breaking new ground: Top USA tower crane innovations in 2024

Photo: Potain

The North American construction industry is scaling new heights as the latest generation of tower cranes redefines what’s possible on job sites. From record-breaking lifting capacities to advanced safety features and streamlined assembly processes, these machines are meeting the demands of modern high-rise and infrastructure projects with unparalleled efficiency.

Crane and Transport Briefing’s Hannah Sundermeyer takes a deep dive into the most innovative cranes of 2024, highlighting standout models from industry giants like Wolffkran, Jaso, Liebherr, Potain and Terex. Packed with key updates on the latest advancements, this report offers valuable information for crane professionals looking to stay ahead of industry trends and challenges.

Read more about how tower cranes are transforming construction sites across North America

SC&RA strengthens advocacy and expands member support in 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) reflects on a year of advocacy, strategic planning and member support. CEO Joel Dandrea highlights the Association’s commitment to strengthening its advocacy ecosystem and ensuring members are ready to tackle tomorrow’s opportunities.

Members of the Permit Policy and Transportation Governing Committee met this summer to discuss the latest on permit policy across the states and provinces.

A standout achievement this year was the publication of resources like the “Guide to Outrigger Pad Materials” and the launch of a Mental Health Awareness Initiative, both receiving widespread praise from members. On the transportation side, SC&RA secured significant wins, including permit harmonization progress across multiple states and new standards for OS/OW travel routes.

Looking ahead, SC&RA plans to dive deeper into critical industry issues, from advancing automation and addressing enforcement fairness to supporting next-generation leaders through programs like the Emerging Leaders Summit. With a packed agenda for 2025 and continued focus on member engagement, SC&RA remains a driving force for innovation, advocacy and progress in the specialized transport and rigging sectors.

Read more about key SC&RA initiatives from 2024

Behind the scenes: how Landoll Trailers transported the iconic ‘Shawshank’ bus

Designed for large-scale hauling and recovery, the new Landoll 850XT trailer was utilized for hauling the famous ‘Shawshank’ bus.

The journey of the legendary “Shawshank Redemption” bus has captivated movie fans around the world, and now it has reached its final destination. “The Shawshank Redemption” tells the story of Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins), a banker wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover, and his friendship with fellow inmate Ellis “Red” Redding (played by Morgan Freeman) over decades at Shawshank State Penitentiary.The 1960 General Motors coach bus, featured in the film’s emotional finale, embarked on a 723-mile journey from Alabama to Mansfield, OH, aboard Landoll’s innovative 850XT trailer.

Along the way, it made stops to delight fans before arriving at the Ohio State Reformatory, where much of the iconic film was shot. Now permanently displayed as part of a museum in Upper Sandusky, the bus continues to inspire and connect fans to the timeless story of Dufresne and Redding. Learn how Landoll’s dedicated team navigated logistical challenges and celebrated this milestone in cinema history in our latest site report.

Read more about the story behind the journey of the Shawshank bus

Positive crane manufacturer ranking as 85% of ICm20 returned to growth

ICm20 table 2024. Image: KHL

Most of the change in this year’s ICm20 crane manufacturer ranking is positive and the result of significantly higher crane sales in 2023 over the previous year. This year’s total is up by more than 5 per cent on last year’s table, much more than a complete reversal of the previous year’s 10 % fall and the 4 % drop the year before that.

The combined total sales from crane-related activity for the 20 largest crane manufacturers by revenue (sales in 2023) is heading back towards the 2021 table’s all-time high of $36,944,945,662. This year’s total is catching up fast and closely matches the 2020 total.

The increase in the 2024 table equates to a lot more cranes delivered. Good news but there are already signs of change that may point towards it being unlikely to be repeated next year. Having said that, 17 of this year’s 20 had higher sales than last year, 10 of those being double digit rises.

Read more about the positive change and other developments in the 2024 ICm20 ranking