This year marks the 75th anniversary of crane manufacturer Grove. The company is one of the most recognized brands in the industry with operations located around the world. Grove’s selection of products includes all terrain, rough terrain, truck, and industrial cranes.
Brothers John and Dwight Grove, along with their colleague Wayne Nicarry, built farm wagons in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania back in the 1940s. They realized a more efficient system to move raw materials for the wagons was needed, and in 1947 John Grove built a primitive mobile crane equipped with rubber tires. As time progressed, he developed the first industrial mobile cranes with hydraulic components. This in turn shifted the company focus from farming equipment to cranes.
By 1967 the company employed over 1,000 people and manufactured a variety of rough terrain and truck cranes. One of their most successful models was the RT-58, produced between 1960 and 1978. The 14-ton machine was a cab down design with a 24 to 60-foot three-section telescopic main boom and optional 20-foot stowaway jib.
In 1968, Walter Kidde Company purchased Grove Industries and John Grove left the company. He went on to start another company named Condor Industries, renamed JLG (John L. Grove’s initials) in 1973. JLG is well known to this day for producing aerial work platforms and scissor lifts.
Grove was acquired by Manitowoc Cranes in 2002. Aaron Ravenscroft, president and CEO of The Manitowoc Company, Inc. said, “We’re extremely proud to celebrate Grove’s tremendous journey over the past 75 years. Our sincere gratitude goes out to our customers and the crane operators that helped promote the Grove legacy.”
Sims Crane & Equipment’s selection of cranes includes several models built by Grove. Capacity range is 40 to 550 tons, with boom lengths of 144 to 437 feet.
Read Grove’s story at Manitowoc’s website by clicking here. Additional details regarding Grove’s history can be read here. Image above courtesy of Grove/Manitowoc.
April 1, 2022
