About Us
Safety is a Choice not a Chance
Imperial Crane is an American success story that began with a simple, uneducated man – a son of German bean farmers – who in 1969 had the courage to buy a single 25-ton crane. With unmatched tenacity, the straight-shooting, outspoken John Bohne worked his knuckles raw to become one of the most powerful businessmen in Chicago, while also building what has become one of the largest crane companies in the world.
Whether it’s the famed Trump Tower, a Citgo Petroleum plant, a British Petroleum oil facility or a common daily taxi rental service in the tough American marketplace, Imperial Crane will rise to the occasion every time. With their enormous fleet, they have proudly completed thousands of projects with impeccable performance, while consistently delivering to their clients the highest levels of safety in the industry.
We are members of the SC&RA and won the 2023 for Safety and Rigging.
BJ. Bohne
Since his father’s passing in 2003, B.J. Bohne has led Imperial Crane Services as President and CEO. The award-winning company has grown under B.J.’s leadership from eighty employees to over five hundred, increased its fleet from thirty to over three hundred cranes, and has nearly quadrupled its revenues from $30 million to over $100 million, elevating its prominence from Chicago’s largest crane company to one of the largest crane companies in the world.
B.J. is also the founder & CEO of several other businesses across the country, which makes him, irrefutably, one of America’s top young business titans.
He serves as an avid philanthropist through his charity, The Bohne Foundation, dedicated to needy children, education, medical research, and to serving the needs of local communities around the world.
