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Commercial Group Acquires F. D. Lake Co.
Commercial Group Lifting Products, based in Taylor, Michigan, has acquired F. D. Lake Co., a Grand Rapids-based fabricator of rigging and lifting products. The move expands Commercial Group’ s reach across Western and Northern Michigan and strengthens its position as a supplier to industries including construction, steel, automotive and utilities.
Founded in 1948 by the Lake family, F. D. Lake was sold to the Carlsen family in 1971 and has operated under that ownership until the present acquisition. The company has long served a diverse customer base with custom rigging solutions.
Under the new ownership, the F. D. Lake brand will remain active in the Grand Rapids market. Commercial Group plans to continue leveraging the established local reputation of F. D. Lake while integrating it into its” broader network.
Mike Posey, who has served as F. D. Lake’ s president for the past 35 years, will remain in his leadership role at the Grand Rapids branch and will also join the management team at Commercial Group.
Commercial Group was founded in 1951 and is a privately held company that operates multiple locations, including Taylor and Grand Rapids, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; and Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio.
Grove Introduces Aftermarket Rope Cleaner for Cranes
Grove has introduced a new aftermarket rope cleaner designed to streamline maintenance for Grove all-terrain cranes. Unveiled as one of Manitowoc’ s key product launches at bauma 2025, the rope cleaner simplifies the process of wire rope cleaning and lubrication, offering significant time savings and efficiency gains.
Housed in a portable, hard-shell case, the system includes everything needed to maintain wire ropes, including straps and shackles. It automates cleaning by feeding the rope through an aluminum housing with easily clamped inserts and scrapers. The inserts are currently available for 16, 17, 19, 22 and 24 millimeter rope diameters, with additional sizes available upon request.
The kit includes a metal sleeve lubrication system and a portable grease transfer system featuring a hydraulic hose and grease pump. After inserting the correct size into the sleeve, technicians secure the lubrication system to the hoist rope and clamp the cleaner device below it. The cleaner is made of durable material and designed to remove debris without damaging the rope.
Once connected to the grease system and crane’ s air pressure supply, technicians can control grease flow while lowering the hoist, cleaning dirt from the rope and applying fresh lubricant. The process is then repeated for the section of rope below the boom head using the hook block for tension.
With this new tool, Grove aims to deliver faster maintenance, reduced downtime and extended rope life for crane owners and operators.
MYCRANE Launches Online Auction Tool for Crane Rentals
MYCRANE, the global online crane rental platform, has launched a new feature designed to simplify procurement, reduce costs and improve transparency. The MYCRANE Auction tool enables real-time bidding from verified equipment suppliers, giving customers faster access to competitive crane rental offers.
The new auction feature supports multiple formats— including reverse auctions, forward auctions and sprint formats— though the reverse auction is expected to be most commonly used. This format allows customers to receive live, competitive bids on high-value or urgent projects, helping to cut rental costs by an estimated 10 to 20 percent and reduce procurement time by up to 60 percent.
The auction system is integrated into MYCRANE’ s main platform and provides a transparent bidding interface. Customers can compare offers side by side, while suppliers can participate directly online or be invited to join an auction if they have already submitted a quote offline.
Initially launched for crane rentals, the tool will soon expand to cover transport services. Suppliers will eventually be able to run their auctions to source logistics support, such as moving cranes or boom lifts.
While optional, the auction feature is expected to be used in roughly 20 to 30 percent of all MYCRANE transactions, particularly when time, complexity or budget constraints are primary concerns.
For more information or to access the auction feature, visit www. my-crane. com.
www. my-crane. com August 2025 • www. cranehotline. com