Street Crane, an engineering and manufacturing lifting and handling supplier and the UK’s leading manufacturer of overhead cranes and hoists, is celebrating a ‘golden’ achievement — its chairman Martin Street has been at the company for 50 years.
He began his career in 1975 — after two years of training as an accountant, he realised his true passion lay in manufacturing and so joined the family business. He began his career as a sales estimator at Crane & Hoist in Sheffield, earning £10 a week in a Victorian factory office, working alongside a team of just 25 people before eventually moving to Street Crane, operating separately in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr Street cites his proudest achievement as the decision to design and manufacture Street Crane’s own range of hoist units and crane components — a move that transformed the company’s future. He said: “When I started, there were more than 20 crane manufacturers of similar size in the UK. Today, Street Crane stands as the only one still producing its own range of products.”
Under his leadership, Street Crane launched its third series of hoist products — the ZX6, ZX8 and ZX10 — competing successfully with global giants on cost and performance. Another pivotal decision was to distribute crane components worldwide through a network of trusted partners, enabling Street Crane to become a global player.
Innovation and adaptabilityMr Street attributes the company’s success to innovation and adaptability. He continued: “We studied what leading manufacturers were doing and developed our own cost-effective solutions. Change was never easy, but it allowed us to grow and remain competitive.”
Above all, he emphasised that none of this would have been possible without the people behind the business. He explained: “It has been a team effort all the way, from past to present, every achievement belongs to the incredible team at Street Crane. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to our success over the years.”
It has always been important to Mr Street that the company provides good local jobs and careers but Street Crane is more than a business — in this words it is a family. Many employees have seen their children and grandchildren join the company, reinforcing its strong community values. Mr Street himself has taken pride in seeing his son join the leadership team, ensuring continuity for future generations.
Looking ahead, Mr Street offers advice for future leaders: “Stay focused on what we do best. Keep pace with competitors, embrace industry standards, and continue developing world-class products. I hope to be remembered as part of a team that kept Street Crane at the forefront of world-class crane makers. I thank everyone — past, present and future – who made this journey possible.”