Cranemaster
Cranemaster AS designs, manufactures, and rents passive heave compensators and shock absorbers for offshore crane operations, serving oil & gas, offshore wind, marine salvage, and decommissioning customers globally from its Norway headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersStanghelle, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cranemaster does
Cranemaster AS designs, manufactures, and services passive heave compensators (PHCs) and shock absorbers for offshore crane lifting operations, headquartered in Stathelle, Norway. Founded in 1983 by Ernst B. Johansen in response to a surge in lifting incidents in the North Sea, the company built the first offshore crane shock absorber unit delivered to the Statfjord B SBM in 1985. Its product portfolio spans the CM1 (25T-100T SWL), CM2 (50T-150T SWL), and CM3 (50T-3000T SWL) series, manufactured in Norway and Germany, with the CM3-3000T-5500-A standing as the world's largest passive heave compensator at 3,000 tonnes SWL with 5,500mm stroke and dynamic capacity up to 3,510 tonnes.
The core technology relies on spring-damper and hydraulic accumulator systems to absorb dynamic loads and reduce vessel motion effects on lifting operations. Proprietary features include the patented CMAC adaptive control system with Quick Lift functionality, the exclusively licensed CMDC passive depth compensation (US Patent 7934561 from InterMoore Inc.), and CAST splash zone tension mode. Cranemaster has participated in over 1,000 subsea operations across oil & gas, offshore wind, marine salvage, and decommissioning verticals, with named customers including Chevron, Shell, BP, Equinor, Heerema Marine Contractors, SBM Offshore, TechnipFMC, and Fred. Olsen Windcarrier.
Revenue is generated through a mix of equipment rental (usage-based), equipment sales (one-time), and professional services including OrcaFlex lift analysis, operational support, and workshop services. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales from Norway headquarters with a network of regional representatives across Brazil, Turkey, Singapore, India, Denmark, UAE, and Australia/New Zealand. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, DNV-ST-0378, and Great Place To Work certifications, is family-owned under Johansen leadership (CEO Espen Johansen, son of the founder), and operates with approximately 19 employees.
Cranemaster firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cranemaster
- Legal name
- Cranemaster AS
- Website
- https://cranemaster.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cranemaster AS designs, manufactures, and rents passive heave compensators and shock absorbers for offshore crane operations, serving oil & gas, offshore wind, marine salvage, and decommissioning customers globally from its Norway headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cranemaster industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Offshore Lifting Equipment (Heave Compensation)
- NAICS
- Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)
- SIC
- Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crane & Hoist Safety & Monitoring Systems (Limiters, Anti-collision, Load Monitoring) (IMAHAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists) (IMAJAIAB), Heavy Lift & Marine Recovery (Cranes, Barges, Jack-up Support) (TLAHAIAF), Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK)
Keywords
Where Cranemaster is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stanghelle
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cranemaster business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Cranemaster maintains an extensive fleet of heave compensators and shock absorbers available for rental worldwide. Units range from 25T to 3000T SWL capacity. Rental model allows customers to access equipment for specific projects without capital investment.
- Equipment Sales: Direct sale of Cranemaster shock absorbers and passive heave compensators to customers for permanent or long-term ownership.
- Engineering Services: OrcaFlex-based lift analysis, feasibility studies, weather window calculations, load chart improvements, and product development consultancy services. Supports customers with technical expertise and simulation capabilities.
- Operational Support: On-site technician support including mobilization assistance, crew training, and offshore operational assistance during lifting operations.
- Workshop Services: Maintenance, repairs, customization, and testing services for Cranemaster equipment using advanced facilities including load test benches and hyperbaric chambers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Multi-year contract | Equipment rental for offshore lifting operations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment purchase for long-term ownership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cranemaster product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cranemaster designs, manufactures, rents, and services passive heave compensators (PHCs) and shock absorbers for offshore crane lifting operations. Its product range spans the CM1, CM2, and CM3 series (25T to 3,000T Safe Working Load), supported by engineering services (OrcaFlex-based lift analysis), on-site operational support, and workshop maintenance, repairs, and testing. The equipment reduces dynamic forces during offshore lifts in oil and gas, offshore wind, salvage, and decommissioning operations, absorbing up to 95% of dynamic loads and reducing dynamic hook loads by up to 60%.
Product overview
Cranemaster offers a portfolio of passive heave compensators (PHCs) and shock absorbers for offshore lifting operations across the oil & gas, offshore wind, salvage, and decommissioning industries. The product range spans the CM1 (25T–100T SWL), CM2 (50T–150T SWL), and CM3 (50T–3,000T SWL) series, all manufactured in Norway and Germany. The CM3 series is the current flagship generation featuring the CMAC adaptive control system, CMDC passive depth compensation for deep-water operations, and CAST splash zone tension mode. The CM3-3000T-5500-A is the world's largest passive heave compensator at 3,000T SWL. Products are available for both rental and purchase, supported by engineering services (OrcaFlex lift analysis), operational support, and an advanced workshop with testing facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shock Absorbers (CM1 Series)
Quantifiable outcome
- Dynamic load reduction up to 60%
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Cranemaster
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cranemaster technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Cranemaster partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and regional.
- InterMoore Inc.coreInterMoore Inc. granted Cranemaster exclusive worldwide rights to US Patent 7934561 for depth compensated subsea passive heave compensation technology. This partnership enables Cranemaster's CMDC (Cranemaster Passive Depth Compensation) system for deepwater operations.
- Heerema Marine ContractorsflagshipHeerema approached Cranemaster to develop the world's largest passive heave compensator (3000T SWL) specifically for their offshore installation campaigns. Direct collaboration resulted in the CM3-3000T-5500-A, developed for handling extreme dynamic forces in ultra-heavy lift operations.
- Servi AScorePrecision engineering and fabrication partner for the CM3-3000T-5500-A development. Servi AS's manufacturing expertise was instrumental in bringing the record-breaking design to life.
- Paschoalin (Brazil)regionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in Brazil, providing sales and support services to regional customers.
- YMV Crane and Winch Systems (Turkey)regionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in Turkey, providing sales and support services to regional customers.
- Unique System (SEA) Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)regionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in Singapore and Southeast Asia, providing sales and support services.
- Unique Group (India)regionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in India, providing sales and support services to regional customers.
- Fanø Kran-Service (Denmark)regionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in Denmark, providing sales and support services to regional customers.
- Unique Group UAEregionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in United Arab Emirates, providing sales and support services to regional customers.
- AME Offshore Solutions (Australia & New Zealand)regionalLocal representative for Cranemaster products in Australia and New Zealand, providing sales and support services. Mobilization and demobilization managed through this representative for US operations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cranemaster competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Enerpac: Specialist in high-force tools and controlled heavy-lifting solutions including strand jacks and同步 lift systems. Comparable to Cranemaster as a niche heavy-lift specialist serving similar offshore and industrial customers, though focused on synchronous-jack technology.
- Moog Inc. Motion-control specialist (formerly including CSA Engineering) that supplies active heave compensation systems. Compares to Cranemaster as a competing motion-compensation technology provider but uses active rather than passive systems.
Broad incumbents
- Konecranes: Global industrial crane and lifting equipment manufacturer. Overlaps with Cranemaster only at the broader lifting-equipment category level; less directly comparable on offshore heave compensation but a relevant scale benchmark.
- Liebherr: Global heavy equipment OEM with a maritime crane portfolio including offshore and shipboard cranes. Overlaps with Cranemaster at the offshore-crane customer interface but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
- NOV (National Oilwell Varco): Large oilfield equipment manufacturer serving offshore drilling, production and lifting. Touches Cranemaster's market through offshore load-handling equipment but addresses it through a far broader equipment portfolio.
Direct peers
- Huisman Equipment: Dutch manufacturer of heavy-duty marine equipment including heave-compensated offshore cranes. Directly comparable to Cranemaster as both serve offshore installation contractors with heave-compensation technology, although Huisman integrates it into newbuild cranes rather than offering retrofittable add-on units.
- MacGregor (Cargotec): Part of Cargotec, MacGregor supplies offshore load-handling solutions including heave-compensated cranes for offshore vessels. Comparable to Cranemaster as a competing source of heave-compensation functionality for offshore lifting, but typically bundled with new crane deliveries.
- TTS Marine / Cargotec Marine: Norwegian-headquartered offshore and marine crane manufacturer (now part of Cargotec), with a long heritage in heave-compensated deck cranes. Competes with Cranemaster in delivering motion-compensated lifting capability to offshore installation vessels.
Others
- Bosch Rexroth: Global supplier of hydraulic and motion-control components used in heavy industrial machinery. Compares to Cranemaster only at the enabling-technology level (hydraulics, accumulators) rather than as a competing solution.
- Aker Solutions: Norwegian offshore engineering, EPC and subsea services firm. Not a direct product competitor but a relevant comparable as a fellow Norway-based offshore specialist with overlapping customer relationships in North Sea oil & gas and offshore wind.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cranemaster social profiles
Digital presenceCranemaster compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cranemaster financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cranemaster leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Cranemaster funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cranemaster 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 Cranemaster
What does Cranemaster do?
Cranemaster designs, manufactures, rents, and services passive heave compensators (PHCs) and shock absorbers for offshore crane lifting operations. Its product range spans the CM1, CM2, and CM3 series (25T to 3,000T Safe Working Load), supported by engineering services (OrcaFlex-based lift analysis), on-site operational support, and workshop maintenance, repairs, and testing. The equipment reduces dynamic forces during offshore lifts in oil and gas, offshore wind, salvage, and decommissioning operations, absorbing up to 95% of dynamic loads and reducing dynamic hook loads by up to 60%.
Is Cranemaster a public or private company?
Cranemaster is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cranemaster founded?
Cranemaster was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cranemaster based?
Cranemaster is headquartered in Stanghelle, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Cranemaster make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales, engineering Services, operational Support and workshop Services.
Who are Cranemaster's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Enerpac and Moog Inc.. Broad incumbents are Konecranes, Liebherr and NOV (National Oilwell Varco). Direct peers are Huisman Equipment, MacGregor (Cargotec) and TTS Marine / Cargotec Marine. Others are Bosch Rexroth and Aker Solutions.
Does Cranemaster have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cranemaster.
What industry is Cranemaster in?
Cranemaster's product category is Offshore Lifting Equipment (Heave Compensation). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAJAL, Crane & Hoist Safety & Monitoring Systems (Limiters, Anti-collision, Load Monitoring), with a secondary code of IMAJAIAB, Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists). Its NAICS code is 33392 and its SIC code is 3530.