US Service Group Acquires Walker Crane & Rigging Corp.
US Service Group (USSG), a New York-based industrial services company, has acquired Walker Crane & Rigging Corp. of Plainville, Conn. Established in 1883, Walker is one of the premier crane, rigging and transportation operations in Connecticut providing rigging and logistics solutions to a diverse client base throughout the United States. Walker operates out of a 130,000-square-foot facility located approximately 30 minutes southwest of Hartford, Conn.
With the acquisition of Walker, USSG continues its strategy of building an industry-leading national rigging, machinery moving and warehousing business. Along with Able Rigging Contractors and Transcope Services, USSG now consists of three separate operating businesses focused on providing rigging and machinery moving services to a diverse customer base including many Fortune 500 and top construction companies in the United States. A number of other companies are in discussions about becoming part of USSG, the company said.
"Acquiring Walker strengthens USSG's presence in the New England region and expands our network of rigging and logistics services into this attractive market," said Steve Laganas, USSG founder and CEO. "We are very pleased that Walker is now part of USSG. With Walker’s history and stellar reputation, our plan is to see USSG continue to grow and prosper as we add equipment, services and additional high-quality employees to the team."
Laganas is also CEO of Deer Park, N.Y.-based Able Equipment Rental. Able Rigging Contractors has been a provider of rigging services for more than two decades, specializing in industrial rigging, tower crane and derrick services, construction, machinery moving and warehousing.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.