Material Handling Systems

What Material Handling Systems does

Material Handling Systems, Inc. (MHS Crane) is a privately held industrial manufacturer founded in 1975 and headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida. The company engineers, fabricates, and services custom overhead bridge cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, monorail cranes, workstation cranes, and supporting components (hoists, trolleys, end trucks, winches, control panels) with equipment capacities ranging from 100 lbs to 50 tons. Manufacturing is conducted in-house across three production facilities with combined capacity of approximately 500 advanced overhead cranes per year; differentiated build specifications include UL508A-certified control boxes, hardened steel wheels (380-420 Brinell), marine-grade epoxy finishes, and flat-cable festooning designed to extend service life versus standard industrial alternatives.

The business operates a consultative sales-led go-to-market with a regional branch network of 10+ offices across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Pennsylvania, plus a dedicated international division serving customers in Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Pacific markets with bilingual English/Spanish support. Revenue is generated across multiple streams: custom equipment sales, parts and accessories, 24/7 repair and field service, OSHA-compliant inspections and load testing, crane modernization, operator safety training, pre-owned/refurbished equipment, and turn-key installation. Pricing is quote-based on custom specifications, with a 5-year lease financing option offered to broaden accessibility to capital-constrained industrial buyers.

MHS serves vertically diversified customers including aviation MROs and manufacturers (Daher Aircraft, Vortex Aviation, GA Telesis, Dedienne Aerospace), marble and granite operations (Stone Mall, Nature of Marble, International Granite & Stone), marine and yacht-club operators (Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club, SeaVee Boats), and government and military entities (US Navy, US Coast Guard, MacDill Air Force Base, Broward/Palm Beach/Miami-Dade counties). The company is a CMAA member (one of only two headquartered in Florida), USFCR Verified Vendor for federal contracting, and holds memberships with MHI, NTEA, and ISNET. Ron Fontes serves as CEO & President. The company has been entirely self-funded since founding with no disclosed institutional investment, M&A activity, or external capital events.

Name

Material Handling Systems

Legal name

Material Handling Systems, Inc.

Website

https://mhscrane.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Material Handling Systems (MHS Crane) is a Pompano Beach, Florida-based custom manufacturer of overhead bridge, gantry, jib, monorail, and workstation cranes founded in 1975, serving aviation, marble/granite, marine, government/military, and industrial customers across the US and international markets via direct regional sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Crane and Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK), Crane & Hoist Safety & Monitoring Systems (Limiters, Anti-collision, Load Monitoring) (IMAHAJAL), Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial crane manufacturing
• Overhead bridge cranes
• Material handling equipment
• Hoist and trolley systems
• Crane inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pompano Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Crane Equipment Sales: Sale of manufactured crane systems including overhead bridge cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, monorail cranes, workstation cranes. Equipment ranges from 100LB to 50 TON capacity. Products available as complete systems or crane kits for customer self-installation.
2. Parts and Accessories: Sale of replacement parts, components, and accessories for crane systems. Large inventory of crane components for service and repairs. Components include end trucks, hoists, trolleys, control boxes, festoon systems, runway rail, and more.
3. Repair and Service: Emergency crane repairs available 24/7. Hoist repair services (in-shop and field). Crane runway alignment. Technicians trained on over 25+ major equipment brands. Root cause diagnostics approach.
4. Inspection Services: OSHA-compliant crane inspections. CMAA-certified technicians. Load testing services (static and dynamic). Services include annual, semi-annual, and monthly inspection programs.
5. Crane Modernization: Modernization services including equipment updates, span measurements changes, replacing defective components, electrical refurbishment, and surface restoration. Extends life of existing crane systems.
6. Safety Training: Operator training programs including forklift/manlift fundamentals, crane and rigging training, mobile crane training, and indoor crane certification. On-site training conducted at customer locations.
7. Pre-owned/Refurbished Equipment: Quality pre-owned and refurbished material handling equipment at reasonable prices for facilities with minimal investment needs.
8. Installation Services: Expert installation services including full crew turn-key installation and senior fabricator support for customer internal assembly teams. Bilingual (English/Spanish) installation teams available for international customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Material Handling Systems, Inc. (MHS Crane) engineers, manufactures, and services a full line of industrial material handling equipment including overhead bridge cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, monorail cranes, workstation cranes, hoists, trolleys, winches, end trucks, and crane kits. The company fabricates equipment at three U.S. production facilities, sells turn-key crane systems, and supports them with repairs, OSHA inspections, load testing, modernization, and operator training across industrial, aviation, marine, government, nuclear, and stone-handling industries.

Product overview

Material Handling Systems (MHS Crane) is a manufacturer and service provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of material handling equipment since 1975. Their core product line centers on industrial cranes including Gantry Cranes (fixed and adjustable), Overhead Bridge Cranes (top-running/under-running, single/double girder), Jib Cranes (floor-mounted, wall-mounted, special application), Monorail Cranes, and Workstation Cranes. These primary products are complemented by essential lifting components: Hoists (pneumatic, electric chain, wire rope, lever, manual), Trolleys (geared, hand-push, motorized), Winches (air powered, electric, hand powered), End Trucks, and Crane Kits for component replacement. The company also offers add-on modules including Radio Controls, Variable Drives, and UL508A-certified Control Panels. A full suite of services supports the equipment portfolio: Manufacturing and Engineering, Crane Repairs (24/7 emergency), Load Testing, Crane Modernization, OSHA Inspections, Hoist Repair, Crane Runway Alignment, and Safety Training. For international markets, they provide bilingual services across design, manufacturing, installation, and training. The company fabricates equipment in-house across three production facilities in the southeastern United States, positioned strategically between Port Everglades and Port Miami for efficient logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gantry Cranes Fixed- and adjustable-height gantry cranes providing an economical lifting solution for moving materials throughout facilities, ideal for areas of infrequent lifts where expensive permanent structures are not justified.
• Overhead Bridge Cranes Full-featured overhead bridge cranes available in top-running and under-running configurations, single and double girder designs, with capacities from 100LB to 50 TON, engineered for industrial material handling.
• Jib Cranes Multi-functional jib crane systems including floor-mounted (up to 7.5-ton, 25 feet span), wall-mounted (up to 5-ton), and special application configurations (up to 1-ton, 16 feet span) for welding stations, loading docks, and marine applications.
• Monorail Cranes Custom-designed monorail crane systems with capacities up to 30 tons, featuring curved tracks, switches, and interlocks that interface with existing equipment, including enclosed track ergonomic systems and standard beam configurations.
• Workstation Cranes Lightweight modular crane systems designed for rapid installation on standard 6-inch concrete floors without overhead building support, available in aluminum, steel, and stainless steel with 150-4000 lbs capacity and up to 34 feet span.
• Hoists Complete line of crane hoists including pneumatic/air hoists, electric chain hoists, electric wire rope hoists, lever hoists, and manual chain hoists, with service and inspection capability for over 25+ leading brands.
• Trolleys Manual and motorized crane trolleys including geared trolleys, hand-push trolleys, and motorized trolleys (electric and air-driven models), available with hook-mounted or lug-mounted suspensions.
• Winches Heavy-duty industrial winches including air powered winches, electric powered winches (worm-gear and spur-gear configurations), and hand powered winches suitable for marine duty applications.
• End Trucks High-performance end truck assemblies providing structural rigidity for keeping crane bridges squared during travel, featuring precision-machined wheels, industrial bumpers, and capacities from 1/8 ton to 50 ton.
• Crane Kits Complete crane kit solutions including end trucks, crane control boxes, custom hoists, pendant control stations, festoon systems, ASCE runway rail, conduit, wiring, and pre-wiring services for customer self-installation.
• Material Handling Equipment Comprehensive industrial material handling solutions including forklifts, mezzanines, fall arrest systems, conveyors (power-free and overhead monorail), and transfer carts.
• Pre-owned Equipment Quality pre-owned and refurbished material handling equipment offered at reasonable prices for facilities requiring minimal investment.
• Manufacturing and Engineering Services In-house engineering and fabrication services including professional specification writing, building load calculations, custom CAD drawings, capacity and full system upgrades, electrical control evaluation, and field engineering support.
• Crane Repairs Expert crane repair services with technicians trained to troubleshoot and repair over 25+ major brands, offering 24/7 emergency service with personalized attention and quality coordination.
• Load Testing Certified static and operational load testing services for overhead cranes, jib cranes, gantry cranes, monorail cranes, hoists, and specialized equipment including turbine engines, tripod jacks, and car lifts; OSHA requires 125% dynamic load testing.
• Crane Modernization Industrial crane modernization services including equipment updates, span measurement changes, component replacement, complete electrical refurbishment, and surface restoration to extend equipment life.
• OSHA Inspections Certified OSHA crane inspection services adhering to CMAA standards, including annual, semi-annual, and monthly inspection programs covering brakes, oil levels, load chains, wire ropes, electrical controls, and structural connections.
• Hoist Repair Expert hoist repair services for crane hoists, chain hoists, electric hoists, and overhead hoists, offering in-shop and field repairs, 24/7 emergency breakdowns, root cause diagnostics, and licensed technicians per CMAA standards.
• Crane Runway Alignment Performance-optimized crane runway alignment services using transit and laser equipment in accordance with CMAA requirements, including comprehensive runway surveys and precision correction methods.
• Safety Training Professional crane operator training programs including forklift/manlift fundamentals, crane and rigging training, mobile crane training, and indoor crane certification training delivered on-site at customer locations.
• International Services Complete international crane services including design, manufacturing, installation, training, and system installation consultation, with bilingual English and Spanish service for customers across the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Pacific regions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% electrical cost savings with electrical regeneration unit
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Columbus McKinnon: Public global leader in hoists, cranes, rigging, and material handling products with broad product portfolio spanning industrial to entertainment — directly overlapping in hoists, cranes, and service but at materially larger scale and broader end-market reach.
• Konecranes: Global leader in overhead cranes, port solutions, and crane maintenance services — overlaps in industrial overhead cranes and service business but at global scale and with port/container-crane focus beyond MHS's niche.
• Terex (Material Handling segment): Global equipment manufacturer whose material handling portfolio includes industrial cranes and aerial work platforms — overlapping product categories but operating at much larger scale and broader industry exposure.

Direct peers

• Gorbel: US-based manufacturer of overhead bridge cranes, jib cranes, gantry cranes, and workstation cranes with strong presence in industrial and manufacturing end markets — directly comparable product portfolio, custom-engineering approach, and target customer segments to MHS Crane.
• Spanco: Manufacturer of jib cranes, gantry cranes, bridge cranes, and workstation cranes serving industrial, warehousing, and manufacturing customers in the US — closely comparable in product scope, capacity range, and go-to-market motion.
• Engineered Lifting Systems: Designer and manufacturer of custom overhead bridge cranes, jib cranes, and material handling systems serving industrial and government customers — directly comparable custom-engineering approach and target verticals.
• Handling Specialty: Custom manufacturer of overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and specialized lifting equipment for aerospace, nuclear, and heavy industrial customers — highly comparable engineered-to-order business model and end-market exposure.
• Mazzella Companies: Provider of overhead cranes, hoists, rigging, and material handling equipment with in-house engineering, installation, and inspection services — comparable vertical integration across equipment, service, and engineered solutions.
• Ace Industries: Distributor and integrator of overhead cranes, hoists, and material handling equipment with installation and service capabilities serving Southeast US industrial customers — comparable regional footprint and product/service mix.
• American Crane & Equipment Corporation: Custom crane and material handling equipment manufacturer specializing in nuclear, aerospace, and government applications — directly comparable specialty focus on safety-critical and engineered-to-order lifting solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mhscrane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/material-handling-systems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Material Handling Systems