Bigge Crane & Rigging
Bigge Crane & Rigging has been instrumental in the American construction scene since it was founded in 1916. Originally the Bigge Drayage Company, the company’s early years were rooted in hauling — first by hauling trunks to people’s houses from the Oakland rail station, then hauling heavy equipment and ship pieces from manufacturers to the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards during World War II.
It was an exciting period in U.S. history, but the innovation within Bigge was only just beginning. In the 1930s, Henry Bigge and his master mechanic invented the common lattice boom truck crane. Shortly after that, he pioneered rolling outriggers, inspiring the company’s evolution and catapulting them to the top of crane and rigging industry.
A proud family-owned company for four generations, the Bigge name has become synonymous with quality and best-in-class cranes and service to commercial, government and industrial markets.
“We have always been very thorough when it comes to servicing our customers and understanding their needs,” said Steven Leaverton, sales manager. “All heavy equipment in Bigge’s fleet has proven to be safe, reliable, versatile and cost-effective in maintenance and ownership.”
The turnkey company offers a variety of solutions and services to support a variety of projects across all price points, including:
- The largest comprehensive crane offering in Northern California
- Vast indoor and outdoor storage throughout the Bay Area
- Riggers
- Trucking
- Drafters and licensed engineers
- Unparalleled experience and years of estimating relationships
As an equipment dealer, Bigge can order parts directly from manufacturers and service their cranes in record time. The company also owns and maintains the largest inventory of new and quality used cranes for rent and sale in the country. During their 106-year history, Bigge cranes (and expertise) have been used on historic infrastructure projects throughout the Bay Area, including building the Golden Gate Bridge, and more recently on jobsites like the Google Bay View Campus, Chase Stadium and the Brooklyn Basin development.
Bigge has become a trusted partner in the crane and rigging industry not only for commitment to customer satisfaction, but for their investment in safety.
“‘Safety first’ is more than just a slogan — it represents our most important core value and is an integral part of our company’s culture,” Leaverton said. “From the early planning stages to the completion of work, we are committed to promoting an injury and accident-free environment while providing the safest workplace possible for our employees, clients, project-site contractors and the public.”
For more than a century, Bigge has built a solid reputation on quality and value for their customers. But for the past five years, the company has discovered their own value in Bay Area SMACNA as a proud associate member.
“I wanted to support the customers and partners who have supported Bigge through the years,” Leaverton said. “The many networking events give us the valuable opportunity to interact with and meet people outside of the office and jobsite and really get to know our customers. It’s this kind of continuous learning that helps keep us on top of the latest in our industry.”