About

Abell-Howe was founded in 1917 in the Chicago area.

Important dates in our history include:

1917 – Abell-Howe Company is formed in Chicago, IL by Oliver Abell & Glenn Howe.

1935 – Abell-Howe Co. is purchased by M. O. Haeger.

1950’s – Abell-Howe Co. moves manufacturing for Cranes, Runways and Jib Cranes to Forest Park, IL with a 90,000 Sq Ft Manufacturing Facility.

1960’s – Jib Crane Products are originally designed and produced.

1982 – Washington Equipment Company is formed in the Peoria, IL area.  This company is also known as WECO.

1985 – Washington Equipment Company moves to former A. O. Smith facility in Eureka, IL – which is now our main facility including Engineering & Manufacturing.

1998 – Abell-Howe Company is purchased by Columbus McKinnon Corporation.

1999 –  Washington Equipment Company is purchased by Columbus McKinnon Corporation.

2002 – Abell-Howe and Washington Equipment are combined into one entity known as Crane Equipment & Service, Inc.

2004 – Abell-Howe production at our Forest Park, IL plant is discontinued and production of all products including Jib Cranes moves to our Eureka, IL facility.

2019 – Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. is purchased from Columbus McKinnon Corporation and becomes it’s own entity.  Crane Equipment & Service, Inc. is the manufacturer of Abell-Howe Cranes.

Overall, we have built tens of thousands of crane systems, thousands of runway systems, millions of dollars of crane/hoist parts and components and have the experience and Engineering Know-How to keep our customers running.

We design, build and service all types of overhead cranes including a full complement of standard and custom crane types including:

  • Structural beam cranes
  • Box-girder cranes
  • Patented track cranes
  • Abell-Howe Jib Cranes
  • Gantry cranes – Single or Double Leg
  • Enclosed Track Aluminum workstation cranes
  • Complete bridge & runway systems
  • Top running free-standing runway kits – FREEDOM FRAME
  • Licensed structural engineering support available

Complete your system with a quality electric chain or wire rope hoist:

  • CM
  • Yale
  • Shaw-Box
  • Budgit
  • Coffing
  • Chester
  • Detroit
  • ACCO

In addition to our crane building facilities, we also have a large inventory of repair parts and accessories for most cranes including hoists, power bar, controls, and other electro-mechanical components.