Demag's roots go back to the Industrial Revolution when German mechanical engineers transformed Europe through the process of industrialization and also founded the companies which became the forebears of Demag Cranes & Components.

Among them was one of Europe's most important suppliers of steam engines and machinery for blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills, founded in 1819. As early as 1840, another forerunner of Demag became Germany's first crane manufacturing company, supplying cranes for industrial and trading purposes and for marine transport.

In the early 1900's, several mechanical engineering and manufacturing businesses throughout Germany were merged, forming a company which became known in 1926 as Demag AG. The integration of these previously competing firms gave a further boost to German mechanical engineering progress.

For the next 50 years, Demag continued to grow and expand into new markets. In 1973, the company was acquired by Mannesmann AG of Dusseldorf, Germany, today one of the largest, multinational capital goods and manufacturing engineering companies in the world. In 1992, the material handling operations of the corporation were consolidated under the subsidiary Mannesmann Demag Material Handling AG, headquartered in Wetter, Germany, which today produces the world's most comprehensive range of material handling equipment.

Today, Demag Cranes & Components is recognized worldwide as a leading producer of cranes and other products and components designed to maximize the movement of materials or products within manufacturing, production or distribution facilities.

The North American operations of Demag Cranes & Components are based in Cleveland, OH.  The company has more than 300 employees, three manufacturing facilities, and several regional sales located throughout North America, with annual sales of $75 million. 

The company manufactures single and double girder cranes in capacities up to 150 tons and spans to 140 feet, using a box-girder design and a modular end truck. Also produced are KBK suspension cranes used for loads up to 7,000 pounds. These cranes can be suspended from the roof of a structure for direct overhead handling. Demag Cranes & Components is especially proud to be suppliers of cranes to the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, as well as to world class organizations such as American Airlines and USX.

In addition to overhead cranes, which account for about one-third of sales, the company produces a wide range of hoists with up to 100-ton capacities, drives with a wide variety of output gear reducers, brake motors utilizing a unique conical rotor and stator design, winch units, wheel blocks and other components. New additions to the product line include the DK1 chain hoists and DH160 wire rope hoists.

The company's product philosophy is based on a proven, modular system approach. Modular components, which are compatible with one another, are combined in various ways to meet individual requirements and to form material handling equipment and machinery that function at the highest levels of efficiency.

Components are manufactured to high quality standards using the latest techniques and processes, including continuous tests and checks throughout the manufacturing process. Each system meets or exceeds national regulations or standards. Total Quality Management (TQM) is being implemented across operations to further improve customer satisfaction and company performance by developing a cross-functional, team-based style and enhancing the talents of all employees in the area of quality improvement methods and processes.