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OZ Lifting Products LLC, a manufacturer of davit cranes and industrial lifting equipment, is celebrating two decades of success and preparing for a major expansion.
Founded on December 4, 2004, with just two employees, the company now employs 25 full-time staff, serves a robust distributor network across North America and is gearing up for a move to a state-of-the-art facility.
The new 40,000-square-foot headquarters, located on a five-acre property on Innovation Drive in Winona, Minnesota, will be four times the size of its current building.
“The new space will provide us with ample room for growth, including increased storage, more advanced testing capabilities and the potential to expand our manufacturing operations," Steve Napieralski, president at OZ Lifting said.
"Most importantly, it will allow us to continue offering the exceptional service and high-quality products customers have come to rely on; while ensuring we maintain the safety standards that are at the core of our mission.”
OZ Lifting is renowned for its davit cranes, including the U.S. Patented CompOZite model, which features a 1,200-pound capacity but weighs only 83 pounds. The CompOZite Elite improves on this design, delivering the same capacity at just 37 pounds.
The recently relaunched Tele-Pro davit crane, another patented product, offers 500-, 1,200- and 2,500-pound capacities and a telescoping boom that adjusts underload. OZ’s product range also includes manual and electric hoists, beam trolleys, clamps, and wire rope solutions.
Napieralski’s journey began in 1988 in the lifting industry, followed by launching a manufacturer representative business in 1995. He founded OZ Lifting in 2004 after building strong distributor relationships and partnering with Australian manufacturers to bring innovative hoist equipment to the U.S. market.
The company started with manual lever and chain hoists featuring overload protection, forming the foundation of its Premium Series. Today, OZ Lifting’s catalog includes 540 stock-keeping units combining U.S.-made and imported products.
“The two-decade milestone and expansion are testaments to the strength of our business, and we’re incredibly proud to be able to continue growing and innovating in ways that will directly benefit our valued customers,” Napieralski added.
“If we keep doing what we do, treat coworkers and customers right, continue to bring innovation to market [and] carry inventory, we will be in very good shape for the future.”
