Bay Crane Buys Chicago's Gatwood Crane, Expands into Midwest

Feb. 1, 2022 - The Bay Crane Companies Inc. (Bay Crane), Long Island City, New York, has bought Gatwood Crane Rental Service Inc. (Gatwood Crane), Arlington Heights, Illinois.

“This transaction expands our presence into key markets with an experienced team that shares our pride in delivering superior customer service,” said Kenneth Bernardo, Bay Crane CEO. “We intend to broaden our capabilities in the Chicagoland area to provide customers with a complete range of solutions.”

Added Bernardo, “Ed and his family have built a very successful business with a great reputation. We see Gatwood Crane as the foundation upon which we will build a leading Chicagoland crane service company. Our plan is to see this business grow and prosper as we add equipment, services, customers, additional locations, and attract the highest quality employees.”

Gatwood was founded by Chuck Gatwood in 1947 and has grown to become one of the best-known crane rental companies in Chicagoland. Its cranes range in lifting capacity from 10 to 500 tons.

Ed Gatwood, CEO, said, “We couldn’t have found a better partner than the Bay Crane team to take over the business my family built over the years. Bay Crane understands the importance of our people to the success of this business. I am excited for the future of Gatwood Crane, its employees, and our ability to better serve our customers in the future.”

“We’re delighted to welcome our new customers and team members to Bay Crane,” said Bernardo. “This transaction expands our presence into key markets with an experienced team that shares our pride in delivering superior customer service. As customers turn to us for their crane, rigging and transportation needs we intend to broaden our capabilities in the Chicagoland area to provide them with a complete range of solutions to help them succeed.”