Crane Engineering - Celebrating 75 Years
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Herbert Crane started Crane Engineering in 1939 out of his home basement in Appleton, Wisconsin representing two pump product lines. After serving as the District Manager for the War Production Board during World War II, Crane returned to growing the business by serving the paper industry. Over the following decades, Crane Engineering expanded its product lines and services and moved to larger facilities to accommodate its growing staff, becoming a leading supplier of pumps, valves, and other equipment to industries across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. By 2014, Crane Engineering had grown to celebrate its 75th anniversary as a full-service provider of fluid handling technology solutions.
Crane Engineering - Celebrating 75 Years
- 1. 1939 The Crane Engineering Story Begins.
- 2. 1939 – Herbert Crane, schooled as a mechanical engineer and experienced in pulp and paper processes, starts Crane Engineering in the spring of 1939.
- 3. Working from his home basement in Appleton, Wisconsin, alongside his wife Marjorie, Herbert Crane begins his new company.
- 4. Crane starts his business representing two key product lines, Goulds Pumps and Viking Pump.
- 5. 1941-1946 – As war rages in Europe, Crane serves as the District Manager of the War Production Board, making Crane Engineering a weekend only venture.
- 6. 1946 – After the war, Crane returns to business, growing by serving the paper industry.
- 7. 1946 – Crane Engineering’s first office on Wisconsin Avenue in Appleton. The first full-time employee is added, Mabel McClanahan, serving as Financial and Operations Manager.
- 8. 1947 – Crane carefully selects a sales force for his growing business. He hires those who will understand the challenges of an engineer best… other engineers. He uses the tagline “Engineers who sell.”
- 9. 1950s – Crane Engineering becomes one of the leading suppliers of pumps and valves to the paper industry in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
- 10. 1950s – Key lines now include Goulds Pumps, Viking Pump, Gorman Rupp, and Rovang Knife Gate Valves.
- 11. 1962 – Jim Crane joins Crane Engineering.
- 12. 1968 – Jim Crane becomes second generation owner of Crane Engineering.
- 13. 1973 – Crane breaks ground on a new office building located at 1200 S. Lynndale Avenue.
- 14. 1974 – Mabel McClanahan is promoted to Vice President.
- 15. 1975 – Construction is near completion on Lynndale Avenue.
- 16. 1975 – Construction is complete at the new Lynndale location.
- 17. 1980 – Crane Engineering breaks ground on a 4,000 sq ft warehouse addition.
- 18. 1981 – Crane Engineering continues to assist the paper industry with solutions to challenging problems.
- 19. 1983 – Crane Engineering acquires Walter B Rohm, entering the industrial market in Milwaukee and water/wastewater market.
- 20. 1983 – Crane’s Account Managers have always been hands on, wastewater is no exception.
- 21. 1985 – Crane Engineering launches its Service and Repair capability.
- 22. 1985 – Crane Engineering launches industrial flooring, dome coating, and tank lining capability.
- 23. 1986 – Crane Engineering hosts the first Tech Expo, a biannual event, presenting for the 15th time in 2015.
- 24. 1986 – Mabel McClanahan retires from Crane Engineering after 40 years of service.
- 25. 1988 – Crane Engineering is growing, employs almost 30.
- 26. 1990 – At 60 employees, the Lynndale office burst at the seams, housing some employees in a construction trailer while the new office was being constructed.
- 27. 1990 – Line cards now include nearly 60 product lines for pumps, valves, filters, instruments, mechanical seals, corrosion resistance, and other fluid process equipment.
- 28. 1990 – Crane Engineering prepares to construct a new, 35,000 sq ft facility in Kimberly to house administration, engineering, service department, warehouse, and the budding OptiFlow Systems group.
- 29. 1991 – Crane Engineering moves to its current location at 707 Ford Street in Kimberly, Wisconsin.
- 30. 1996 – Crane Engineering now employs 60.
- 31. 2001 – With the capability to design and build chemical feed, mixing, and other systems, OptiFlow Systems is launched.
- 32. 2004 – Third generation leader Lance Crane joins the company and becomes President of Crane Engineering.
- 33. 2007 – Jim Crane retires after 45 years of service. Lance Crane becomes the third generation owner and CEO of Crane Engineering.
- 34. 2007 – OptiFlow Systems division goes national, selling to chemical, tissue, and other industries across the country.
- 35. 2008 – As a complete turnkey solution, Crane Engineering sends its own programmers to start up OptiFlow Systems in sanitary conditions…
- 36. …and not so sanitary, ensuring systems are performing to customers’ expectations.
- 37. 2009 – Crane Engineering creates the Valve SuperSource, a one stop shop for over 35 valve manufacturers, onsite inventory, and technical support.
- 38. 2013 – Crane’s Account Manager engineers remain hands on, to this day.
- 39. 2013 – Service group now has an expanded inside and field service team and fleet. They now service and maintain a wide range of rotating equipment…
- 41. Valve repair, customization and automation…
- 42. Screw pumps, and more.
- 43. 2013 – Crane Engineering’s Regional Service Center is now a Factory Authorized Service Center for Goulds Pumps, Viking Pump, Roto-Jet, and Gorman Rupp Pumps.
- 44. 2014 – Top Tier Manufacturer Distribution Leadership - better outfitted today to serve virtually all fluid technology needs plus industrial flooring and tank lining.
- 45. 2014 – Crane Engineering celebrates 75 years providing fluid technology solutions to Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and beyond.