23.09.2009

Lewis files Chapter 11

US Crane rental company, Lewis Equipment has filed voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions in Fort Worth, Texas.

The company, headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, operates a crane fleet that includes, tower cranes, mobile cranes and crawler cranes as well as hoists. Affiliates include Rock Island Rigging, Lewis Crane & Hoist and Lewis Equipment New Zealand.

The company is also the North American dealer for Yongmao tower cranes which it markets under the SunCrane brand name, Zoomlion mobile and crawler cranes, and Hercules construction hoists. The company purchased $33.9 million worth of Zoomlion truck cranes just over 18 months ago.
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A Lewis yongmao/SunCrane luffing tower and large Zoomlion crawler

The Chapter 11 filing states that the company has liabilities of over $100 million along with assets with a similar book value. Among the largest creditors listed is Las Vegas based Jakes Crane & Rigging which is apparently owed over $1 million.

Lewis moved into New Zealand in 2007, purchasing Verticon tower crane and hoist businss Click here to see Lewis buys Verticon NZ
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A Grove GMK 6350 in the Lewis fleet