The History of Uesco Cranes: Over a Century of Engineering Excellence

Since 1921, Uesco Cranes has been a cornerstone of American manufacturing. As a family-owned and operated business spanning four generations, our history is a story of evolution—from a local Chicago repair shop to a premier national manufacturer of custom-engineered overhead crane systems.

Four Generations of Family Leadership

1921–1959: Fred Marks – The Foundation

The Uesco legacy began on the South Side of Chicago when Fred Marks, an armature winder for General Electric, purchased an existing business called Universal Electric Repair Works. Seeking to build a life for his family in Chicago, Fred utilized his technical expertise to transition the company into Universal Electric Service Company.

During the 1930’s, all of Fred’s sons, George, Warren, Art, and Harold, worked in the family business. The oldest brother, George, obtained his electrical contractor's license from the City of Chicago, and Universal Electric Service expanded its capabilities to include machine tool wiring and commercial electrical work. They also began removing motors from customers’ machines to feed the motor rewind business. They discovered the difficulties that typical consumers had removing motors from overhead cranes. This became one of their specialties, a harbinger of things to come.

After the end of World War II and their father's death, the brothers took up other interests. 

1959–1970s: Warren Marks – Industrial Expansion

Warren Marks became the sole owner in 1959. Under his leadership, the company pivoted toward the growing crane and hoist industry.

• Strategic Partnerships:  Warren established a landmark relationship with Robbins & Meyers (R&M), and an addition was made to the Ashland shop, allowing the company to begin fabricating cranes for the local R&M sales office. The relationship with R&M continued to expand into a regional stocking parts distributorship for the Great Lakes area, positioning the company as the primary Chicago depot for crane parts, warranty, and service.
  
• The Birth of Uesco Industries: In 1976, Warren founded Uesco Industries, Inc., and in 1978, moved operations to our current location in Alsip, Illinois, to accommodate the company’s transition from repair services to large-scale industrial fabrication. Commercial electric repair work and motor rewinds were still a part of the business, but crane manufacturing and service were quickly growing.

1980s–2020: Don Marks – Building the National Brand

The third generation, led by Don Marks, oversaw Uesco’s most significant strategic shift. Recognizing the demand for high-quality, American-made lifting solutions. In 1984, Uesco Industries, Inc. bought the assets of Universal Electric Service and ceased operations in motor rewinds. Don transitioned the company to focus exclusively on crane manufacturing.

 

 

• The Uesco Cranes Brand: Don built the "Uesco Cranes" name into a national brand, expanding the distribution network far beyond the Midwest to include material handling companies throughout the United States.
  
  
• Vertical Integration: Under his direction, Uesco became a specialized builder of complex runway systems and custom-engineered cranes, proving to end-users that an American-made product is built to last.

2020–Present: Ryan D. Marks – Modernizing the Legacy

In 2020, Ryan D. Marks assumed the role of President, representing the fourth generation of the Marks family leadership. Ryan continues to build upon the foundation of his predecessors, ensuring Uesco remains at the forefront of the material handling world through modernized engineering and expanded logistics.

Today, under Ryan's leadership, Uesco Industries stands as a vertically integrated leader in the industry. We operate as a Master Distributor for the world’s most respected brands—including CM, Coffing, Harrington, Detroit Hoist, and R&M Materials Handling—while maintaining our core identity as a premier American manufacturer.

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Uesco Today: Quality Built in the U.S.A.

Our current operations in Alsip, Illinois, serve as the national hub for high-performance lifting solutions. We combine over 100 years of hands-on experience with advanced engineering to provide products that are reliable, durable, and precision-engineered.

Current Manufacturing & Service Capabilities:

• Custom Crane Engineering: We manufacture single and double-girder cranes in both top-running and under-running configurations, all featuring high-performance dual-motor drive systems.
• High-Capacity Systems: Our standard offerings range from 1/2-ton to 40-ton capacities, with spans up to 100 feet, and we offer fully custom designs tailored to specific industrial needs.
• Turnkey Solutions: From initial concept and Professional Engineering (PE) design to complete installation and runway fabrication, we provide the full lifecycle of crane services.
• Unrivaled Service: Our fleet of service trucks is staffed by factory-trained technicians, offering preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and 24-hour emergency repair to keep your operations moving.

From Fred Marks’ first motor repair in 1921 to our current status as a national manufacturing leader under Ryan D. Marks, Uesco has remained dedicated to the same promise: American-made products engineered to last.