Downers Grove, IL Mon–Fri 8am–5pm CST
sales@craneauthority.com
About Crane Authority

The Crane
Authority
Difference

For more than 25 years we have supplied and specified overhead lifting equipment for industrial facilities across the United States. We are not a catalog reseller — we are application specialists who make sure the crane you buy is the crane you actually need.

Our Story

Built on Getting the Spec Right

Crane Authority was founded on a simple observation: most crane problems are not equipment problems. They are specification problems. A crane that fails early, runs rough, or cannot reach where it needs to reach was almost always specified incorrectly before anyone ever bolted it down.

We started as a supplier serving manufacturers and fabricators in the Chicago area, and we built the business around doing the unglamorous work up front — asking about duty cycle before capacity, measuring real hook height instead of ceiling height, and asking whether the building can actually carry the load before quoting a ceiling-hung system.

"The cheapest crane is the one you specify correctly the first time. Everything after that is a repair bill."

Today we supply overhead bridge cranes, jib cranes, gantry cranes, davit cranes, hoists, trolleys, and lifting magnets to facilities nationwide — from single-jib machine shops to multi-bay steel service centers. The scale has changed. The approach has not.

We work with established American and international manufacturers, which means we are not locked into pushing one brand's product line. If a wire rope hoist is the right answer instead of the chain hoist you asked about, we will tell you that — even when the chain hoist would have been the easier sale.

Overhead bridge crane installed by Crane Authority at Westside Tractor Sales

5-ton double girder bridge crane installed for Westside Tractor Sales — full bay coverage with radio remote control.

25+
Years in Business
500+
Systems Supplied
15+
Industries Served
24hr
Quote Turnaround
What We Stand For

How We Work

Four principles that shape every quote we send and every system we supply.

Safety Is the Spec
Every system we supply meets applicable CMAA, ASME, and OSHA standards. We will not quote an undersized crane to win a job on price. If your duty cycle calls for Class D, we quote Class D and explain why.
Application First
We ask about your material, your process, your building, and your shift schedule before we talk about products. The right answer is sometimes a smaller crane, a different hoist, or an attachment you had not considered.
Straight Answers
No pressure, no padded quotes, no pretending a product does something it does not. If we are not the right supplier for your project, we will say so and point you somewhere useful.
Fast Turnaround
Most quotes go out within 24 hours of receiving your dimensions and capacity requirements. When you are planning a production line or a facility move, waiting a week for a number is not acceptable.
Brand Independent
We work with multiple established manufacturers rather than representing a single line. That means we can match the equipment to your application instead of matching your application to our inventory.
Support After the Sale
Questions about inspection intervals, replacement parts, capacity upgrades, or adding a second hoist to an existing runway — call us. We do not disappear once the equipment ships.
Our Process

From First Call to First Lift

A straightforward five-step process designed to get you the right equipment without surprises.

1
Discovery Call
We talk through your application — what you are lifting, how often, where, and what your building looks like. Usually 15 minutes.
2
Application Review
We determine capacity, span, hook height, and CMAA duty class, then flag any structural or power questions that need resolving.
3
Detailed Quote
Within 24 hours you receive a written quote with full specifications, lead time, and any recommended alternatives.
4
Order & Build
Once approved, we place the order and keep you updated on production status through to shipment.
5
Delivery & Support
Equipment ships with documentation for your safety program. We remain available for installation questions and ongoing support.
Why Buy From Us

Not a Catalog.
A Conversation.

Anyone can sell you a crane off a spec sheet. The difference shows up three years later, when the equipment is either still running smoothly or already showing fatigue because nobody asked the right questions at the start.

Start a Conversation
We Ask About Duty Cycle First
Capacity is the easy question. How hard the crane works over its life determines whether it lasts five years or twenty-five.
Real Hook Height, Not Ceiling Height
Beam depth, hoist headroom, and obstructions all eat into usable lift. We calculate what you will actually get.
Structural Reality Check
If your building cannot carry a ceiling-hung system, we will flag it early and quote a freestanding alternative instead of letting you find out during installation.
Attachments Are Part of the Spec
A vacuum lifter or magnet changes your effective capacity requirement. We factor below-the-hook devices into the quote from the start.
No Pricing Games
One clear written quote with the full specification. No stripped-down teaser number that grows once you commit.
Where We Work

Based in Illinois.
Shipping Nationwide.

Crane Authority operates out of Downers Grove, Illinois, in the western Chicago suburbs. We serve the greater Chicagoland manufacturing corridor directly and ship equipment to industrial facilities throughout the continental United States.

Whether you are twenty minutes away in Naperville or across the country, the process is the same — a real conversation about your application, followed by a quote you can actually use.

ChicagoNapervilleAuroraJolietElginRockfordNorthwest IndianaSouthern WisconsinNationwide Shipping
Talk to a Specialist
Free application consulting with no obligation. Tell us what you are lifting and we will tell you what you need.
Hours
Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CST
Request a Quote

Let's Get Your Lift Right

Tell us what you are lifting, how often, and where. We will tell you exactly what you need — and what you do not.

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