LR Willson & Sons
L.R. Willson & Sons is a family-owned Mid-Atlantic structural steel, precast, and tilt-up panel erector serving general contractors, developers, and government clients with crane rental, repair, and emergency response services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersGambrills, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LR Willson & Sons does
L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc. is a Maryland-incorporated, family-owned structural steel, precast concrete, and tilt-up panel erection contractor. The business traces to Leonard R. Willson's 1951 one-man welding shop in Annapolis, MD, and was incorporated under its current name in 1971 under the direction of his daughter and two sons. Operating from a headquarters in Gambrills, MD, the firm serves general contractors, commercial and industrial property developers, and government/public-sector owners across the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia-Annapolis corridor and broader Mid-Atlantic / East Coast region.
The company's service portfolio spans six core offerings: AISC Advanced Steel Erection (with seismic and metal decking endorsements) for industrial warehouses, aircraft hangars, educational facilities, and high-rise offices; PCI-certified structural precast erection for parking garages, stadiums, warehouses, and industrial facilities; tilt-up panel erection for schools, retail, and commercial buildings; crane rentals (23-300 tons) operated through sister company Crane Rental Now with NCCCO-certified operators, rigging, trucking, and storage; remedial/repair services for structural steel; and emergency response for weather- or impact-damaged structures. Operations are supported by a 250+ person workforce, three dedicated safety professionals, and a large fleet of well-maintained equipment.
Revenue is earned through project-based contracts with general contractors and property owners, supplemented by equipment-rental fees and time-sensitive emergency repair premiums. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting B2B construction customers, with free custom estimates delivered via phone, email, and website request forms. The company is privately held by the Willson family with no institutional investors or parent entity identified; multi-generational leadership (President Donald E. Willson, VP LJ Willson) is in place.
LR Willson & Sons firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LR Willson & Sons
- Legal name
- L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc.
- Website
- https://lrwillsonandsons.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- L.R. Willson & Sons is a family-owned Mid-Atlantic structural steel, precast, and tilt-up panel erector serving general contractors, developers, and government clients with crane rental, repair, and emergency response services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LR Willson & Sons industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Structural Steel Erection Services
- NAICS
- Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412), Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241)
- SIC
- Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steel Erection & Structural Ironwork (EDAOAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD), Scaffolding, Rigging & Access Systems (EDAOAAAK)
Keywords
Where LR Willson & Sons is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gambrills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LR Willson & Sons business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Structural Steel Erection Services: AISC-certified advanced steel erection services for commercial and industrial buildings. Revenue is project-based, earned through competitive bidding and direct contracting with general contractors and property owners.
- Structural Precast Erection Services: PCI-certified precast concrete erection for parking garages, stadiums, warehouses, and industrial facilities. Project-based service revenue.
- Tilt-Up Panel Erection Services: On-site casting and crane-based erection of concrete panels for schools, warehouses, retail spaces, and commercial buildings. Project-based revenue.
- Crane Rental Services: Crane rentals with NCCCO-certified operators, ranging from 23 to 300 tons. Sister company Crane Rental Now handles rentals. Revenue generated through equipment rental fees and operator labor charges.
- Emergency Response and Remedial/Repair Services: Structural damage emergency response for tornado/snow load damage, building stabilization, and structural repairs. Emergency and repair service revenue, often time-sensitive with premium pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free estimate for all services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
LR Willson & Sons product offering
Product offeringCore offering
L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc. is a family-owned erector performing AISC-certified structural steel erection, PCI-certified structural precast erection, and tilt-up panel erection for commercial, industrial, government, and institutional buildings across the Mid-Atlantic. The company also operates crane rental services ranging from 23 to 300 tons via its sister company Crane Rental Now, with NCCCO-certified operators, and provides remedial/repair and emergency response services for structural damage.
Product overview
L.R. Willson & Sons is a family-owned structural steel, precast, and tilt-up panel erection company serving the Mid-Atlantic region since 1971. The company offers a comprehensive suite of construction erection services including Structural Steel Erection (AISC-certified with seismic and metal decking endorsements), Structural Precast Erection (PCI-certified), Tilt-Up Panel Erection, Crane Rental with NCCCO-certified operators (23-300 ton range via sister company Crane Rental Now), Remedial/Repair services, and Emergency Response. The company positions itself as 'The Mid-Atlantic's Most Versatile Steel & Precast Erector' and operates from Gambrills, MD with coverage across Washington, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Annapolis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Structural Steel Erection AISC-certified Advanced Steel Erection services for industrial warehouses, aircraft hangars, educational facilities, and high-rise office buildings. The company holds AISC endorsements in seismic and metal decking.
- Structural Precast Erection PCI-certified erection of architectural and structural precast components for parking garages, athletic stadiums, shooting ranges, warehouses, and industrial facilities.
- Tilt-Up Panel Erection Onsite casting and crane-based erection of large concrete panels for schools, libraries, churches, retail spaces, and commercial office buildings.
- Crane Rental Crane rentals through sister company Crane Rental Now, offering hydraulic truck cranes, tower cranes, lattice boom trucks, and crawlers ranging from 23 to 300 tons. Includes NCCCO-certified operators, rigging, trucking, hauling, and indoor/outdoor storage services.
- Remedial/Repair Remedial structural steel repairs including column reinforcement, rooftop additions, and damage repair from forklifts or other incidents.
- Emergency Response Structural damage emergency response services for buildings damaged by tornadoes or excessive snow loads, including stabilization and rebuilding or fortification.
Quantifiable outcome
- Free quotes provided - never charge for estimates
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use LR Willson & Sons
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LR Willson & Sons technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
LR Willson & Sons partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Crane Rental NowcoreSister company that provides crane rentals in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area with cranes ranging from 23 to 300 tons. L.R. Willson & Sons refers customers requiring crane rentals to this sister company, and Crane Rental Now provides the equipment and operators that L.R. Willson & Sons needs for their erection projects.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
LR Willson & Sons competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- ALL Erection & Crane Rental: Crane rental company serving the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic with similar tonnage fleet. Comparable equipment offering though more geographically concentrated in adjacent regions.
- Cleveland Steel Specialty Co. Mid-Atlantic structural steel erector serving commercial and industrial projects. Comparable in geographic footprint and project type, though smaller scale.
Direct peers
- Tindall Corporation: PCI-certified precast concrete manufacturer and erector serving commercial, industrial, and infrastructure markets. Directly comparable as a certified precast erector with similar vertical integration in concrete construction.
- High Steel Structures: Structural steel fabricator and erector specializing in bridges and commercial buildings in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable in geography, certification profile (AISC), and project mix including large public-sector work.
- SME Steel Contractors: AISC-certified structural steel erector serving commercial, healthcare, and convention center projects nationally. Directly comparable as a competing certified steel erector with similar project-based revenue model and federal/commercial customer mix.
- Maxim Crane Works: One of the largest crane rental operators in North America with a fleet covering similar tonnage ranges. Comparable to L.R. Willson's Crane Rental Now sister company in equipment type and customer overlap.
- Bigge Crane and Rigging: Crane rental and rigging services provider with a large fleet and East Coast presence. Comparable as a regional crane rental competitor with overlapping customer base in commercial and industrial construction.
Broad incumbents
- Schuff Steel Company: One of the largest structural steel fabricators and erectors in the U.S., serving commercial, healthcare, and data center markets. Comparable in scope of structural steel work but operates at significantly larger national scale.
- Barnhart Crane & Rigging: National crane rental and heavy rigging services provider with significant East Coast and Mid-Atlantic coverage. Overlaps with Crane Rental Now in equipment categories and end markets.
- Arcosa (formerly Trinity Industries segments): Diversified infrastructure manufacturer serving construction, energy, and transportation markets with structural steel and concrete products. Comparable at the materials level but operates at much broader national scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LR Willson & Sons social profiles
Digital presenceLR Willson & Sons compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
LR Willson & Sons financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LR Willson & Sons leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
LR Willson & Sons subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
LR Willson & Sons funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LR Willson & Sons M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LR Willson & Sons
What does LR Willson & Sons do?
L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc. is a family-owned erector performing AISC-certified structural steel erection, PCI-certified structural precast erection, and tilt-up panel erection for commercial, industrial, government, and institutional buildings across the Mid-Atlantic. The company also operates crane rental services ranging from 23 to 300 tons via its sister company Crane Rental Now, with NCCCO-certified operators, and provides remedial/repair and emergency response services for structural damage.
Is LR Willson & Sons a public or private company?
LR Willson & Sons is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was LR Willson & Sons founded?
LR Willson & Sons was founded in 1971. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is LR Willson & Sons based?
LR Willson & Sons is headquartered in Gambrills, United States, in the North America region.
How does LR Willson & Sons make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Structural Steel Erection Services are the primary driver. The others are structural Precast Erection Services, tilt-Up Panel Erection Services, crane Rental Services and emergency Response and Remedial/Repair Services.
Who are LR Willson & Sons's main competitors?
Regional players on record are ALL Erection & Crane Rental and Cleveland Steel Specialty Co.. Direct peers are Tindall Corporation, High Steel Structures, SME Steel Contractors, Maxim Crane Works and Bigge Crane and Rigging. Broad incumbents are Schuff Steel Company, Barnhart Crane & Rigging and Arcosa (formerly Trinity Industries segments).
Does LR Willson & Sons have an API?
No public API is recorded for LR Willson & Sons.
What industry is LR Willson & Sons in?
LR Willson & Sons's product category is Structural Steel Erection Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAAAJ, Steel Erection & Structural Ironwork, with a secondary code of TLABAFAD, Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing. Its NAICS code is 532412 and its SIC code is 1600.