Edwards Inc. Adds Three More Sany Cranes to Fleet

(Sponsored Content) - Edwards Inc., a leading steel fabricator and crane rental company headquartered in Spring Hope, N.C., is adding three more Sany rough-terrain cranes to its fleet.

Scheduled to arrive in June and July, the new RT cranes include two with 75-ton capacity and one that can lift 100 tons.

The new rigs will join four 75-ton Sany RTs and a 90-ton Sany teleboom crawler crane already working in Edwards’ 98-crane rental fleet.

“Because Sany cranes give us excellent quality at an affordable purchase price, Edwards can offer rental customers brand-new equipment at competitive rates,” said Jamie Ezzell, who has been with Edwards for 34 years and has managed its crane division for the last 17.

We’ve had Sany cranes in our fleet since 2023, and we are very happy with their easy operation, high reliability, and solid return on investment, as well as with as the responsive support we get from Sany America,” added Ezzell. “That’s why we’re adding more of them to our fleet.”

Solid Foundation, Consistent Growth

Founded in 1979 as a welding shop by former U.S. Marine Derrill Edwards, Edwards Inc. has grown into a full-service industrial contractor that provides construction, fabrication, and crane services to industries like pharmaceuticals, food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, general manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, nuclear power generation, and electrical distribution.

It is an AISC Certified fabricator for building steel, bridge component steel, and sophisticated paint, and is experienced in constructing, fabricating, and repairing boilers, power piping, and pressure vessels.

Today, the company has grown from its headquarters in Spring Hope, N.C., to include six additional branches throughout the state and one in South Carolina. It has also grown to nearly 700 employees, of whom about 150 are involved in crane rental.

Most of Edwards’ work takes place in the Carolinas and Virginia, though it also serves customers all across North America. And it still operates on the same values that Derrill Edwards instilled from the start: a can-do attitude, a strong work ethic, and common sense.

Big Fleet Grew from One Crane

The arrival of the three new Sany RTs will boost Edwards’ total fleet to more than 100 cranes.

That fleet includes mini cranes, carry-deck cranes, boom trucks, truck cranes from 60- to 210-ton capacity, all-terrain cranes from 175 to 770 tons, rough-terrain cranes up to 100-ton capacity, telescopic-boom crawler cranes to 90 tons, and lattice-boom crawler cranes to 150 tons.

“We buy cranes that have the reach and lifting capacity our customers need while also being easy to road under North Carolina’s DOT regulations and bridge laws,” said Ezzell. “We’ve found Sany cranes just as easy to transport and assemble as all the other major brands.”

Edwards’ crane service and rental business started in 1979 when it bought a 35-ton truck crane. “The company bought that crane to make sure one was always available when needed,” said Ezzell. “Almost immediately, other companies began hiring Edwards to make lifts for them, and that part of the business has kept growing into what it is now.”

Ezzell has been part of Edwards’ growth for more than three decades, but his crane experience reaches back a full 40 years.

Trust and Test Led to Purchase of Sany Cranes

Four decades of experience in the industry gives Ezzell expert perspective when he evaluates equipment.

“We first got involved with Sany America in 2023,” said Ezzell. “I’d seen the cranes at trade shows like Bauma and ConExpo, but I took a closer look because I’d known the Sany rep for many years and trusted him.”

Sany America gave Edwards the chance to try out a new model and give feedback before Sany began distributing it broadly in the U.S. and Canada.

“We used that 50-ton RT in our laydown yard, and all of our operators, including me, got a chance to try it out,” said Ezzell. “We all liked how it ran, especially how easily each of us could tune each function’s operating speed to our own preferences. That tryout and our trust in the people at Sany America led us to buy our first four 75-ton Sany RTs.”

Edwards’ four Sany RTs are mainly used in bare rentals. Ezzell said that his operators and customers appreciate how comfortable the Sany cab is. “Everyone who has run them likes the roominess, the reclining seat, and the control layout,” he said. “I’ve also noticed that the fit and finish are excellent. They just look well made.”

Happy Customers

Edwards and its customers also appreciate the Sany cranes’ performance and reliability. “Customers seem to like the way they run and how reliable they are,” said Ezzell. “So do we. We can rent them to a customer and never hear a complaint. Two of the 75-ton RTs have been on rent to the same job site for two years now.”

Edwards bought the 90-ton Sany teleboom crawler crane about two years ago. It works reliably both on Edwards’ own projects and as an operated-and-maintained rental rig.

“Its popular for bridge work and other heavy infrastructure applications,” said Ezzell. “We often rent it with a vibratory hammer and operator to install sheet-piles or caissons.”

Trusted Partner

Sany America’s responsive support is just as important as the quality of its equipment, according to Ezzell. “Edwards Inc. is very happy with the support we get from Sany America,” he said. “Spare parts have been available when needed, as has been technical support. Anytime we’ve had questions, we’ve been able to call and get immediate answers.”

Ezzell added, “Just as important, we trust the people at Sany America. They’ve proven that they really want to be a strong partner for Sany customers, and I look forward to building that relationship.”