Maxim takes over Sims Crane’s tower crane assets as the Florida operator narrows its focus
Maxim Crane Works has closed the purchase of the tower crane assets of Sims Crane & Equipment, giving the rental company a larger tower crane presence in one of the strongest construction markets in the United States.
A tower fleet changes hands
The deal, announced on 3 April 2025, covers the tower crane assets of a wholly owned subsidiary of Sims Crane & Equipment Co. Sims, founded in 1959, runs the largest crane rental fleet in Florida from 16 branch locations and has been expanding into Georgia with a recent office in Atlanta. The tower crane business was the part of that operation it chose to let go.
For Maxim the purchase sits alongside a wider fleet renewal programme and adds capacity in a product class where demand is tied closely to high-rise and mixed-use building work — exactly the segment driving Florida’s construction volume.
“We are thrilled to partner with Sims to complete this asset acquisition. This acquisition strengthens our commitment to delivering top-quality crane solutions and further expands our capabilities in the tower crane market.”
— Paul McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer, Maxim Crane Works
Sims narrows its scope
Sims presented the sale as a way of concentrating on the parts of its business that fit its own plans.
“This strategic decision allows us to focus our operations on applications within the industry that align closely with our mission and objectives. By streamlining our operations, we aim to enhance our service offerings and better meet the needs of our valued customers.”
— Deborah Weber, CEO and President, Sims Crane & Equipment Co.
Two different strategies
The transaction is a neat illustration of how differently regional and national crane owners can read the same market. Sims, a Florida specialist since 1959 with innovative safety and training practices and the state’s largest crane rental fleet, is concentrating on the work it does best and expanding geographically into Georgia. Maxim, operating nationally, is adding a product line in a market it already serves and can move tower cranes between regions as high-rise cycles shift.
Where it fits
Maxim operates from more than 50 US locations, each offering project management, rigging, engineering and transport alongside crane rental. Its fleet spans hydraulic truck cranes, rough terrain cranes, crawlers, conventional truck cranes, boom trucks and tower cranes, working for industrial manufacturing, infrastructure and commercial building customers. Neither company disclosed the value of the transaction or the number of tower cranes involved.
Source: Maxim Crane Works — Photos: Maxim Crane Works