ACT's exclusive SpecializedLifting50

From oil and gas refineries to petrochemical facilities, nuclear power plants to wind farms, whether large- or small-scale projects, there appears to be no shortage or work for the specialized lifting sector.

Over the last year, the ACT SpecializedLifting50 list has seen a slight increase in almost every category. While remaining steady, it appears that the market for specialized lifting is experiencing another year of quiet growth. With several minor increases, the indicators have remained stable without any notable surges since our 2018 survey. As the market continues to stabilize, the SpecializedLifting50 index should continue to see modest increases.

The SpecializedLifting50 posted an index of 1,457,799, gaining 29,927 tons over the 2018 index.

With the exception of a few flat years, its easy to see that each year brings with it slight progress across the board. Acquisitions have accounted for some of the jumps on the list as the larger companies continue to expand, while smaller companies show little growth.

This year’s SpecializedLifting50 employs some 14,847 people, increasing by 198 employees over 2018. As the industry continues to combat the work force gap, the availability of jobs is increasing alongside a declining number of employees interested in filling them. In hopes of bridging this gap, the future of the industry will rely on a growing awareness in more blue collar job opportunities to keep this number steady and growing.

ACT began distributing survey forms for the SpecializedLifting50 list via email in January 2019 and followed up with phone calls and more emails in February. The companies that completed and returned these surveys over the course of the last two months were included in this year’s list.

For some companies we were forced to use their data from our 2018 list. In these cases, an asterisk will appear next to that company’s name. As a result, the SpecializedLifting50 is an estimate.

While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information in this list, ACT, and its editors and its publishers do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions. We strive to improve this list, as well as our other annual lists, every year.