Ascom
Ascom SpA is a privately-held Italian manufacturer of industrial and marine lifting equipment, producing self-propelled boat hoists, marine forklifts, gantry cranes, and custom solutions with capacities from 2 to 1500+ metric tons for marinas, shipyards, and industrial customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersFormigine, Italy
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ascom does
Ascom SpA is a privately-held Italian manufacturer headquartered in Formigine (Modena) that designs and builds lifting and material handling equipment for the marine and industrial sectors. The company operates across two main divisions: Marine & Shipyards, which includes self-propelled boat hoists/travel lifts (25–1500 metric tons), marine forklifts (4–20 tons with negative lifting capability), and marine jib cranes (10–100 tons); and Industry, which includes gantry cranes (RTG, CLS, RGC up to 1500 tons), low carriers for heavy transport (up to 200 tons), overhead cranes distributed under the ABUS dealership, and fully custom engineered solutions. A specialized AQUATIC product line provides amphibious submersible hoists for slipway operations. The company also sells pre-owned equipment through a dedicated used marketplace.
Underlying technology centers on proprietary industrial engineering rather than software: an electronic multimode steering system offering six steering modes controlled via linear encoders and PLC monitoring, an electronic load detection system with radio remote display, marine-grade C5-M anti-corrosion coating, hydraulic power steering on 2 or 4 wheels, a pivot trunnion system for uneven ground, and a remote factory assistance capability that allows Ascom engineers to connect to deployed equipment for diagnosis and parameter modification. Equipment is built to EU CE standards with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications.
Ascom makes money primarily through capital equipment sales (new and used), supplemented by recurring service revenue. New equipment is sold via direct enterprise sales to marinas, boatyards, shipyards, and industrial customers, with pricing quote-based and capacity-dependent across the 2–1500+ ton spectrum. After-sales service, technical support, repairs, maintenance, and spare parts are monetized through the wholly-owned subsidiary ASCOM SERVICE s.r.l. and a global network of local service agents. The company pursues a multi-channel GTM including direct sales, trade show participation (NAVALIA, Dubai International Boat Show), a four-language website, social media, case-study-driven content marketing, and the ABUS overhead crane dealership in Italy. Customer segments are vertical-oriented and span marinas/boatyards, industrial and construction (including renewable energy and mining), and commercial shipyards across Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and North America.
Ascom firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ascom
- Legal name
- ASCOM S.p.A.
- Website
- https://ascom-italy.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ascom SpA is a privately-held Italian manufacturer of industrial and marine lifting equipment, producing self-propelled boat hoists, marine forklifts, gantry cranes, and custom solutions with capacities from 2 to 1500+ metric tons for marinas, shipyards, and industrial customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ascom industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial & Marine Lifting Equipment
- NAICS
- Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)
Keywords
Where Ascom is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Formigine
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ascom business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- New Equipment Sales: Sale of new lifting equipment including boat hoists, marine forklifts, gantry cranes, overhead cranes, low carriers, jib cranes, and custom solutions. Equipment ranges from 2 to 1500+ metric ton capacity. Both standard catalog products and customized equipment manufactured to client specifications.
- Used Equipment Sales: Sale of pre-owned lifting and handling equipment including travel lifts, boat hoists, marine forklifts, and gantry cranes. Equipment is sourced from trade-ins and previous customer equipment.
- After-Sales Service and Support: Technical support, repairs, maintenance, and spare parts through Ascom Service s.r.l. Includes support contracts, on-site repairs, and remote diagnostics.
- Spare Parts Supply: Supply of original spare parts for equipment maintenance and repairs, with quick availability from well-stocked warehouse.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Boat Hoists (Travel Lifts) - 25-110 ton capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Boat Hoists (Travel Lifts) - 150-420 ton capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Boat Hoists (Travel Lifts) - 470-1500 ton capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Marine Forklifts - 4-20 ton capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Marine Jib Cranes - 10-100 ton capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gantry Cranes - 10-1500 ton capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Solutions - 10-1500 ton capacity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ascom product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascom S.p.A. manufactures and sells industrial and marine lifting equipment, including self-propelled boat hoists/travel lifts (25-1500 metric tons), marine forklifts (4-20 tons), marine jib cranes (10-100 tons), industrial gantry cranes (RTG, RGC, straddle carriers up to 1500 tons), low carriers (up to 200 tons), overhead cranes (2-500 tons), and AQUATIC amphibious boat hoists (25-400 tons). The company offers both standard catalog products and customized equipment engineered to client specifications. Revenue is generated through new equipment sales, used/pre-owned equipment sales, spare parts supply, and after-sales technical support through its ASCOM SERVICE s.r.l. subsidiary.
Product overview
Ascom SpA is an Italian manufacturer specializing in industrial and marine lifting equipment, offering a comprehensive portfolio of both standard catalog products and customized solutions. The product line is organized into two main divisions: Marine & Shipyards (boat hoists/travel lifts from 25 to 1500 tons, marine forklifts, marine jib cranes) and Industry (gantry cranes/RTG/straddle carriers from 10-1500 tons, low carriers up to 200 tons, overhead cranes via ABUS partnership, and custom solutions). A specialized AQUATIC line provides amphibious submersible hoists for slipway operations. The company also sells used equipment and provides after-sales service through its subsidiary Ascom Service s.r.l.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Boat Hoists / Travel Lifts Self-propelled (diesel or electric) boat hoists on tyres for marinas and boatyards for the transfer and launching of vessels. Available in capacity ranges from 25 to 1500 metric tons across multiple model variants (BHT 25, 45, 60, 75, 85, 110, 150, 220, 300, 350, 420, 450, 470, 500, 600, 700, 820, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1500 ton).
- Marine Forklifts Marina forklifts for boat handling with capacities from 4 to 20 metric tons, featuring negative lifting stroke for launching and hauling vessels in both high and low tide conditions.
- Marine Jib Cranes Marine jib cranes for boat storage and repair services with capacities from 10 to 100 metric tons, available in single or four-arm configurations.
- Gantry Cranes (RTG, CLS, RGC) Industrial gantry cranes including self-propelled Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTG, single arch), Self-propelled Straddle Carriers (CLS, double arch), and Rail-mounted Gantry Cranes (RGC) with capacities from 10 to 1500 metric tons.
- Low Carriers Self-propelled (diesel or electric) heavy-load transport vehicles equipped with cabins for transport of bulky and heavy loads such as precast elements, wind turbines, and special loads, with capacity up to 200 metric tons.
- Overhead Cranes Overhead bridge cranes with capacities from 2 to 500 metric tons. Ascom is an official dealer of ABUS Kransysteme GmbH in Italy, also providing inspection and maintenance services.
- AQUATIC Amphibious Boat Hoists Amphibious/submersible hoists allowing operation directly on existing slipways when conventional dock is unavailable. Capacities range from 25 to 400 metric tons.
- Custom Solutions Custom-designed lifting equipment solutions with load capacities from 10 to 1500 metric tons, tailored to specific business requirements including industrial machinery and specialized structures.
- Used Equipment Pre-owned ASCOM and third-party lifting equipment including travel lifts, boat hoists, forklifts, and gantry cranes available for purchase.
- After-Sales Service and Support Technical support, repairs, maintenance, and spare parts delivered through ASCOM SERVICE s.r.l. (wholly-owned subsidiary). Includes support contracts, on-site repairs, and remote diagnostics via remote factory assistance capability.
Quantifiable outcome
- Doubled lift capacity for Cantieri di Olbia with 600-metric ton Boat Hoist installation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ascom
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ascom technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Ascom partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ABUS Kransysteme GmbHcoreOfficial dealer of ABUS Kransysteme GmbH products in Italy. Ascom distributes ABUS overhead cranes, light gantry cranes, HB systems, jib cranes, hoists, and accessories. Also provides inspection and maintenance services for ABUS equipment in Italy.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ascom competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marine Travelift Inc. Marine Travelift is the most direct competitor in self-propelled boat hoists and travel lifts, with comparable capacity tiers targeting the same marina and boatyard end market globally; the two firms are the leading specialists in this niche category.
- Hans Künz GmbH: Austrian manufacturer of specialized industrial cranes and lifting equipment including gantry and process cranes, comparable to Ascom in size, niche specialization, and customization capability across industrial and adjacent applications.
- Goldhofer: German manufacturer of heavy-haul and transport equipment including self-propelled modular transporters and low-bed trailers, directly comparable to Ascom's low carrier product line for wind, construction, and special heavy loads.
Broad incumbents
- Manitowoc Company: Crawler and tower crane manufacturer with port and industrial material handling product lines (including Potain and Grove brands) that overlap with Ascom's gantry and heavy-lift industrial offerings.
- PALFINGER AG: Global manufacturer of lifting solutions including marine cranes, knuckle-boom cranes, jib cranes, and access platforms - overlapping with Ascom's marine jib crane and forklift segments at broader scale.
- Terex Corporation: Diversified equipment manufacturer with mobile cranes, port equipment, and material handling lines that overlap with Ascom's gantry, low carrier, and industrial crane portfolio.
- Cargotec (Kalmar / Hiab / MacGregor): Provides load-handling solutions for ports, shipping, and on-road logistics through Kalmar (port equipment), Hiab (loader cranes), and MacGregor (marine load handling), competing with Ascom's marine and industrial lifting portfolio.
- Konecranes: Global industrial crane and port equipment major offering overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and material handling solutions that compete with Ascom's industrial product lines, supported by a substantially larger service network.
- Liebherr: Diversified heavy equipment manufacturer with marine and industrial crane lines (crawler, mobile, port, offshore) that overlap with Ascom's gantry, low carrier, and heavy-lift offerings at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
Others
- ABUS Kransysteme GmbH: German overhead crane manufacturer that is Ascom's strategic channel partner for the Italian market; comparable as an overhead crane producer but not a direct competitor given the distribution arrangement and complementary product portfolios.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ascom social profiles
Digital presenceAscom compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Ascom financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ascom leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ascom subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Ascom funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ascom 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 Ascom
What does Ascom do?
Ascom S.p.A. manufactures and sells industrial and marine lifting equipment, including self-propelled boat hoists/travel lifts (25-1500 metric tons), marine forklifts (4-20 tons), marine jib cranes (10-100 tons), industrial gantry cranes (RTG, RGC, straddle carriers up to 1500 tons), low carriers (up to 200 tons), overhead cranes (2-500 tons), and AQUATIC amphibious boat hoists (25-400 tons). The company offers both standard catalog products and customized equipment engineered to client specifications. Revenue is generated through new equipment sales, used/pre-owned equipment sales, spare parts supply, and after-sales technical support through its ASCOM SERVICE s.r.l. subsidiary.
Is Ascom a public or private company?
Ascom is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ascom founded?
Ascom was founded in 1972. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ascom based?
Ascom is headquartered in Formigine, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Ascom make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. New Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are used Equipment Sales, after-Sales Service and Support and spare Parts Supply.
Who are Ascom's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marine Travelift Inc., Hans Künz GmbH and Goldhofer. Broad incumbents are Manitowoc Company, PALFINGER AG, Terex Corporation, Cargotec (Kalmar / Hiab / MacGregor), Konecranes and Liebherr. ABUS Kransysteme GmbH is listed as an others.
Does Ascom have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ascom.
What industry is Ascom in?
Ascom's product category is Industrial & Marine Lifting Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHABAE, Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial). Its NAICS code is 333923 and its SIC code is 3550.