26
ACT
MARCH 2014
REGIONAL REPORT
MIDWEST
Hal Lundgren
reports
that growth in the
Midwest is fueled by
everything from power
plant turnarounds to
‘vertical’ construction in
the larger cities.
Heartland
comeback
makes lawn equipment.”
Cullinan erected a new facility six years
ago and continues to keep it active. Its
equipment inventory includes 10 tractors,
18 trailers and 25 forklifts.
“We’ve also added three robots,” he said
with a chuckle. “You push your thumbs
down on the controls, and the robot lifts a
250,000-pound machine.”
50 years strong
All Erection and Crane Rental, which
is celebrating its 50th year in business,
covers the entire Midwest. It operates 16
full-service yards throughout the nation’s
midsection. About half of its more than
1,500 employees serve customers from
those yards.
“As for both people and equipment, we
have been growing,” said Michael Liptak,
president of the Ohio-based company.
“Growth has been the case for the past
three years. During that time, we added
more than 400 people. We added more
than 180 at our 16 Midwest depots.”
As for equipment, Liptak said that All
continues to “carefully” grow its fleet.
“Last year, we added more than 600
pieces of equipment,” he said. “We’re up by
more than 100 units in the first quarter of
2014. These additions have been in every
capacity range. The crane resale market
is strong. Our rental markets have been
Michael Liptak, president of the All Family
of Companies, said that in 2013 his
company added more than 600 pieces of
equipment, and they are up by more than
100 units in the first quarter of 2014. He
reports that the crane resale market is
strong and rental markets are growing.
T
here are no Oscars for dramatic
achievement at Cullinan Rigging
and Erecting. The Ramsey,
MN-based company prefers steady over
bold, predictable over uncertain and
modest growth over roller coaster rides.
“We’ve been in business 25 years,” said
Bob Cullinan, president. “We seem to inch
a little ahead each year. Of those 25, 24
have been up years. Our last three years
have been our best three.”
Early signs indicate that 2014 might
mean four out of four “best” years.
Cullinan’s company specializes in
plant relocation, overhead crane service,
machinery moving, rigging and millwright
services. The breadth of those services fits
well in an area with diverse businesses.
“Machine-tool companies in our area
are expanding facilities or building
new ones,” Cullinan said. “We’re doing
a lot of work for those companies.
Minnesota has lots of medical and medical
equipment companies. We have lots of
manufacturing, too, like Toro, which
Power generation and fossil fuel
exploration have been key industry drivers.
Central Contractors Service, a member
of the All Family of Companies, helps lay
support beams for a new 1.5-acre public
park at the River Point office tower in
Chicago, directly over a section of Amtrak
train tracks into Union Station.
