Lift Planning and Engineering Services
Complete technical planning services for projects across Alberta and Western Canada.
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Request a QuoteSPECIALIZING IN ENGINEERED LIFT PLANS
500+ projects completed
Our crane experts have handled hundreds of hoisting and rigging projects, from single-crane picks at industrial plants to multi-crane sets on confined urban sites. Every project gets the same level of attention to sequencing, capacity, and site conditions before the crane ever mobilizes.
Specialized Lifting Solutions
When a project needs more than standard slings and shackles, we work alongside engineers to develop custom rigging and attachments for loads that do not fit off-the-shelf hardware. That includes asymmetric loads, tandem picks, and lifts with unusual centre-of-gravity or clearance constraints.
Experienced Crane Teams
Our crews bring years of hands-on lifting experience to every plan we write, and that field knowledge shapes how we sequence a lift long before the crane arrives. It is the same experience and reputation that has made us one of Canada’s leading crane companies.
Technical Services Backed by Practical Knowledge
We have planned some of the biggest lifts in Alberta, and that experience shows in how we approach a new project. Our established relationships across the lifting industry, combined with a consistent safety record, let us bring practical knowledge to every plan rather than a generic template. Pre-planning reduces risk on the day of the lift and improves how efficiently the crew executes it, which matters as much on a routine tilt-up as it does on a multi-crane industrial set.
The Lift Planning Process
We plan the work and work the plan. Our team studies each project, sizes the correct crane for the load and site conditions, and produces a detailed lift plan before any equipment moves. The process runs in stages:
- Site walk and load assessment: we review the load’s weight, dimensions, and centre of gravity alongside the site itself, including access routes, overhead clearances, underground utilities, and ground conditions.
- Crane and rigging selection: based on the load and site, we size the crane, boom configuration, and rigging hardware needed to make the pick with an adequate capacity margin.
- Lift plan and rigging diagram development: we produce the rigging diagram, crane position and swing path, pick and set locations, and exclusion zones as part of the written lift plan.
- Wind speed and ground bearing studies: for picks near capacity or in variable ground conditions, we calculate the maximum wind speed for the lift and the outrigger or crawler track bearing pressure the ground can support.
- Engineer review, where the lift calls for it: lifts that exceed standard thresholds, involve tandem cranes, or carry an unusual load configuration go through a professional engineer review and can be stamped on request.
- Execution day walkthrough: before the pick, we walk the plan with the crew and site personnel so everyone understands crane position, load path, and their role in the lift.
Precision in Every Engineered Lift Plan
Our engineered lift plans are built with precision, not guesswork, because the customer and our own field personnel need to trust that the safest and most efficient option has already been worked out on paper. We offer a professional engineer’s review and stamp of approval on request for lifts where that level of sign-off is warranted. Not every lift needs a stamped plan. Alberta’s OHS Code sets minimum technical requirements for cranes, hoists, and lifting devices, and a stamped engineer review typically comes into play for lifts approaching a crane’s rated capacity, tandem or multi-crane picks, loads with an uncertain centre of gravity, or custom-engineered rigging. Routine picks well within a crane’s capacity and standard rigging configurations can usually proceed on a standard lift plan without that added review. We help each customer understand which category their project falls into before work begins, rather than defaulting to the most conservative option every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a crane lift plan?
A crane lift plan from our team includes the rigging diagram, a written critical lift plan where the lift qualifies as one, a wind speed study setting the maximum safe wind for the pick, and a ground bearing study confirming the outriggers or crawler tracks are supported. It also includes a site sketch showing crane position, swing path, pick and set locations, and exclusion zones for personnel and equipment on site. Together, these deliverables give the crew, the site owner, and any reviewing engineer a single reference for exactly how the lift will happen before the crane ever sets up.
When do we need a critical lift plan instead of a standard rigging plan?
A lift typically moves into critical lift territory once it approaches a significant share of the crane’s rated capacity at the planned radius, involves a tandem or multi-crane pick, or carries a load with an asymmetric or uncertain centre of gravity. We assess this during the site walk and load assessment stage, not after the crane is already booked.
Does every lift plan need a professional engineer’s stamp?
No. We offer engineer review and a stamped plan on request, and we recommend it for lifts near capacity, custom rigging, or unusual site conditions. Routine picks with standard rigging and comfortable capacity margins can typically proceed without one.
How far in advance should we book lift planning for a project?
Timing depends on the lift. Standard picks can often be planned and booked on short notice, including same-day in a pinch, once we have the load and site details in hand. Larger or more technical lifts, particularly those requiring a stamped engineer review or custom rigging fabrication, benefit from more lead time so the plan and any equipment can be ready before mobilization, and we’ll tell you honestly which category your project falls into.
What site information do you need before you can start planning a lift?
We need the load’s weight, dimensions, and centre of gravity, along with site access, overhead and underground clearances, and ground conditions at the pick and set locations. The more of this we have up front, the fewer surprises show up during the site walk.
Can lift plans account for winter conditions at northern Alberta sites?
Yes. Sites around Fort McMurray and other northern operations deal with extended cold and shifting ground conditions through freeze-thaw cycles, and our ground bearing and wind speed studies account for the conditions on the day of the lift, not just a general seasonal average.
Who reviews the lift plan before the crane shows up on site?
Our own team reviews every plan internally, and a professional engineer reviews and stamps it when the lift calls for that level of sign-off. Site personnel also walk through the plan with our crew before the pick begins.
What happens if ground or weather conditions change on lift day?
Our crew checks conditions against the plan’s assumptions before the pick proceeds. If wind speeds or ground conditions fall outside what the plan allows for, we adjust the approach or reschedule rather than executing a lift outside its planned margins.
