Detroit Hoist

What Detroit Hoist does

Detroit Hoist & Crane Co. LLC is a U.S. industrial manufacturer that designs and builds VFD-controlled wire rope hoists (3.30 to 75.00 ton capacities) and bridge crane end trucks (2.00 to 60.00 ton capacities) out of its headquarters and plant at 6650 Sterling Drive North, Sterling Heights, Michigan. The company traces its origin to 1905 as Pillings Air Engine Works, was renamed Detroit Hoist & Machine Co. in 1907, and operates today as a privately held LLC with 11-50 employees. Core technology centers on closed-loop vector control VFD drives for hoist motions and sensorless vector control for trolley motions, paired with motor encoder feedback, load float control, programmable hook-block limits, and 100% dynamic braking; control panels are UL508A cULus listed with CSA Type 4, 4X enclosures, and weather protection and explosion-proof variants are offered for outdoor and hazardous locations.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time equipment sales at MSRP (wire rope hoists $17,000-$29,000 per unit; bridge crane end trucks $7,480-$18,040 per unit) with 21-27 week build-to-order lead times, supplemented by replacement parts (a serialized, part-number lookup-driven aftermarket stream), and separately contracted installation services. Go-to-market combines a direct sales-led motion (website quote system plus a structured multi-department phone tree at 1-800-521-9126 / +1 586-268-2600) with a nationwide authorized distributor network of 50+ channel partners covering all 50 U.S. states (e.g., ACE Industries, Deshazo, Mass Crane & Hoist, Pacific Crane & Hoist, UESCO Industries, Morgan Engineering, OMI Crane Systems).

The customer base sits in three verticals: industrial manufacturing plants needing overhead material handling; crane service and installation companies that resell or integrate Detroit Hoist components; and warehouse/distribution facilities requiring bridge crane systems. Marketing and customer-support channels include the detroithoist.com product catalog and pricing pages, downloadable equipment manuals and Hitachi VFD documentation, and a YouTube technical channel featuring setup tutorials.

Name

Detroit Hoist

Legal name

Detroit Hoist & Crane Co. LLC

Website

https://detroithoist.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Detroit Hoist is a Michigan-based, privately held manufacturer founded in 1905 that designs and builds VFD-controlled wire rope hoists and bridge crane end trucks for industrial manufacturing, crane service companies, and warehouse facilities, selling across the U.S. via direct sales and a 50-state distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sterling Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wire Rope Hoist Sales: Sale of VFD-controlled wire rope hoists for monorail, top running double girder, and base mount configurations. MSRP ranging from $17,000 to $29,000 per unit with 21-27 week lead times.
2. Bridge Crane End Truck Sales: Sale of bridge crane end trucks with various capacities (2-60 ton), spans, and configurations. MSRP ranging from $7,480 to $18,040 per unit with 21-23 week lead times.
3. Replacement Parts: Sale of replacement parts for Detroit Hoist equipment. Customers can search by serial number or part number to find specific replacement components.
4. Installation Services: Installation services available as separate contract when specified. Subject to separate Terms of Installation conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Detroit Hoist designs, manufactures, and sells VFD-controlled wire rope hoists and bridge crane end trucks for industrial overhead material handling applications. Standard product offerings include wire rope hoists from 3.30 to 75.00 ton capacity across multiple configurations (monorail, top running double girder, base mount, lug mount, under running double girder), bridge crane end trucks from 2.00 to 60.00 ton capacity, replacement parts, and optional installation services. Equipment is CMAA Class D rated, available in standard or explosion-proof atmospheres for indoor or outdoor service.

Product overview

Detroit Hoist is a U.S. manufacturer of industrial lifting equipment offering two core product lines: Wire Rope Hoists and Bridge Crane End Trucks. The Wire Rope Hoists product line includes multiple mounting configurations (Monorail, Base Mount, Lug Mount, Top Running Double Girder, Under Running Double Girder) with capacities ranging from 3.30 to 75.00 Ton. The Bridge Crane End Trucks product line includes various suspension types (Top Running Single/Double Girder, Under Running Single Girder, Bogie) with capacities from 2.00 to 60.00 Ton. Both product lines support Standard or Explosion Proof atmospheres and are rated CMAA Class D. The company also provides complementary services including Replacement Parts, Part Price & Availability search, Equipment Manuals, and Technical Documentation covering VFD systems and component specifications. Products are VFD-controlled using technologies including closed-loop vector control with encoder feedback for hoists and sensorless vector control for trolleys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wire Rope Hoists VFD-controlled wire rope hoists available in multiple configurations including Monorail, Monorail Cross Mount, Monorail Extended Gauge (Monobox Beam), Top Running Double Girder Low Profile, Top Running Double Girder Main/Auxiliary, Base Mount, Lug Mount, and Under Running Double Girder. Capacities range from 3.30 to 75.00 Ton with various lift heights and CMAA Class D rating. Intended for industrial manufacturing plants and overhead material handling operations.
• Bridge Crane End Trucks Bridge crane end trucks available in suspension types including Top Running Single Girder, Top Running Double Girder, Under Running Single Girder, and Bogie. Capacities range from 2.00 to 60.00 Ton with various span options, available in Standard or Explosion Proof atmospheres for Indoor or Outdoor Service. CMAA Class D rated. Designed for crane builders, integrators, and end users assembling complete crane systems.
• Replacement Parts Searchable database of OEM replacement parts for Detroit Hoist equipment, searchable by unit serial number or part number. Customers purchase individual components to maintain and repair installed hoists and end trucks, available with real-time stock status and MSRP per part number via the Part Price & Availability tool.
• Installation Services Professional installation services for Detroit Hoist wire rope hoists and bridge crane end trucks, contracted separately from product purchases and governed by separate Terms of Installation conditions. Provided to industrial customers deploying new equipment at manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other facilities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACE Industries, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Alabama. Provides local sales, service, and support for Detroit Hoist products in the Alabama region.
• CraneTechminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Alaska. Provides local sales and support for Detroit Hoist products.
• Pacific Crane & HoistminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for California. Provides local sales, service, and support for Detroit Hoist products.
• UESCO Industries, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Illinois. Provides local sales and support for Detroit Hoist products.
• Stewart Engineering & Sales Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Michigan (headquarters state). Provides local sales and support for Detroit Hoist products.
• Morgan Engineering Systems, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Ohio. Provides local sales and support for Detroit Hoist products.
• OMI Crane Systems, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Texas. Provides local sales and support for Detroit Hoist products.
• BonfigliolicoreTechnology or IntegrationMotor brake manufacturer. Bonfiglioli motor brakes are used in Detroit Hoist products. Technical documentation and installation guides provided for Bonfiglioli BFK458 series brakes.
• HitachicoreTechnology or IntegrationVFD (Variable Frequency Drive) supplier. Detroit Hoist uses Hitachi P1, WJ-C1, WJ200, and SJ700 VFD models. Comprehensive technical documentation and manuals provided for all Hitachi VFD products.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Columbus McKinnon: A leading global designer and manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and material handling products. Directly comparable to Detroit Hoist as a hoist and crane component manufacturer serving industrial customers across multiple capacity ranges.
• Harrington Hoists: Manufacturer of electric and manual hoists, cranes, and material handling equipment. Directly comparable to Detroit Hoist across electric wire rope hoists, chain hoists, and crane components for industrial markets.
• Gorbel: Manufacturer of overhead material handling solutions including bridge cranes, jib cranes, and gantry cranes. Comparable to Detroit Hoist in bridge crane components and industrial material handling.
• R&M Materials Handling: Manufacturer of electric wire rope hoists, chain hoists, and crane components for industrial applications. Directly comparable to Detroit Hoist across product category and capacity range.
• Yale Hoists (Columbus McKinnon): Hoist brand under Columbus McKinnon offering wire rope hoists, electric chain hoists, and manual hoists. Directly comparable to Detroit Hoist's wire rope hoist product line.

Broad incumbents

• Konecranes: Global leader in lifting equipment and services, including wire rope hoists, bridge cranes, and end trucks. Comparable to Detroit Hoist on product overlap, but operates at much greater scale and across services, inspections, and digital offerings.
• Terex (Material Handling / Crane segment): Major global manufacturer of cranes and material handling equipment, including rough terrain cranes and industrial lifting products. Comparable at the hoist/crane component level but much broader in scope.
• Demag (now part of Terex or Konecranes): Historic German hoist and crane brand with strong industrial product lines including wire rope hoists and crane components. Directly comparable on hoist technology but serves a broader European and global footprint.

Emerging players

• J.D. Neuhaus: Manufacturer of pneumatic and electric hoists, including air hoists. Comparable in hoist manufacturing but differentiated by focus on explosion-proof and hazardous-environment applications.

Regional players

• Morgan Engineering Systems: U.S.-based manufacturer and integrator of overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and custom material handling solutions. Comparable to Detroit Hoist as both a regional hoist/crane builder and a Detroit Hoist distributor (Ohio).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmcVPWUHutLeBJA_L-GQiQg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Detroit Hoist