History of Greer Company

In 1972, the Greer Company began distributing crane-monitoring devices in the United States. These systems
were developed and sold by Weighload Limited, a British company in London. The systems were almost entirely
mechanical and measured parameters such as load, angle, boom length, and load radius. At that time, the
systems sold by Greer consisted of load-indicating devices and boom angle indicators. Load sensing devices
were similar to line-rider (also called a dynamometer or tensiometer). The hydraulic operation used bourdon
tube technology to activate a dial-type gauge.
In 1973 the Gerald L. GREER COMPANY was incorporated in the State of California by its founder, Gerald Greer.
In the 1980’s a company called EKCO in England developed the first microprocessor-based Load Moment
System. For the first time, a crane’s load chart could be programmed into the computer to allow protection
throughout the load operation. Force was measured using hydraulic transducers in the boom hoist cylinders
of the crane. These systems, however, required a lengthy calibration process to store crane data and to make
adjustments for the many variables. Thus came the introduction of the MicroGuard® Series computers and
the birth of the Electronic Rated Capacity Indicator Systems. Greer became a distributor for EKCO. Then, in
1985, Morgan Crucible purchased EKCO, and it became MEI (Morgan Electronic Instrumentation).
In 1990, the Gerald Greer sold the company to The Morgan
Crucible Company, but continued to lead the company until his
retirement in 1994. After the purchase of the Greer Company
by Morgan Crucible, the MicroGuard® 400 Computer was
developed. The system was more streamlined than previous
systems and much more compact. This evolved into the
MicroGuard® 424, and MicroGuard® 434 systems that are
still in use today.
With the introduction of the MicroGuard® 500 Series and compact
printed circuit board technology, the system became much smaller.
With the transducers installed in the computer unit, the MG500 Series
is half the size of the MG400 Series Computer. There was a very good
reason for moving the transducers from the lift cylinder to the inside of
the MG500 Computer. With that change, Greer removed about 75%
of the on-crane calibration requirement. Greer now matches and pre-
calibrates the transducers before they leave the factory. Additionally,
every computer unit goes through an 11-hour environmental chamber
sequence that does the following:
• Tests and burns in the electronics
• Tests all of the system functions
• Programs in a temperature compensation curve for each transducer
Greer then introduced the following displays to operate with the MG500 Computer.
• the RCI-510 A much improved version of the RCI-500
• the MG-585 Basic display for smaller cranes
• the MG-586 Intermediate display positioned between the
RCI-510 and MG-585

History of the Greer Company 1 W000100A 06/08

In 1995, the company moved into its present 16,000
square foot facility in Santa Ana, California from previous
sites in Fountain Valley and Birmingham, Alabama, and
began trading under its current name, The GREER
COMPANY. In the three years to 1998, sales increased
by about 15% each year to nearly $10 million. In 1998,
the company achieved ISO 9001 certification.
In 2000, the GREER COMPANY became part of Tulsa
Winch Group which is owned by Dover Industries, a
division of the New York based Dover Corporation.
Dover has operations around the world and its stock
is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol DOV.
In 2008 the Company moved it’s manufacturing and distribution facilities to Tulsa in order to facilitate
cooperation between the companies within the group.

History of the Greer Company 2 W000100A 06/08

 9/10/2009

History of Greer Company

Cranes may not be as

“New” as you think!

Lifting devices have

been in use to help
Mankind for over
5000 Years

In this single masted Roman Crane, limited slewing was

provided by altering the tension in the lateral ropes

By the Middle Ages,

Mobile Cranes were developed
This sketch is from Italian Engineer
Mariano Taccola in 1449

This sketch is from Italian Engineer Mariano Taccola in 1449

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 9/10/2009

In 1885, this Stuckenholz 150 Ton Capacity

crane was the largest crane in the world.

This was a Slewable

harbor crane

In 1874 William Ewart received a patent for a chain

with interchangeable links.

This led to the founding of

Link-Belt
Link Belt Machinery
Company in 1880

In 1890 the first Link Belt

steam crane was built

Weighload Limited- Was a

company founded in the UK
in 1963 by Brian Gene Nixon.

Weighload used a load line

measuring system which
minimized calibration

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In 1968, PAT was founded in Germany by Dr.

Ludwig Pietzsch.

Hydro Electro
Mechanical
In 1969 Krueger introduces the Mark I
electromechanical safe load indicator.

History of Greer Company

In 1972 Greer Company began distributing
crane monitoring devices in the United States.
These systems were developed and sold by an
English company called Weighload Limited, a
company based in London.
The systems were almost entirely mechanical
but measured parameters such as load, angle,
boom length, and load radius.

At that time the systems

sold by Greer Company
consisted of:
•Load Indicating Devices
•Boom Angle Indicators

Load sensing devices

were very similar to Line-
Rider (also called a
dynamometer or
tensiometer).

Greer Company began

developing their own line
of line rider, using a
strain gauge technology.

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 9/10/2009

In the 1980’s a company called EKCO, based in

England developed the first “micro-processor”
based Load Moment System. Greer Company
was the U.S. distributor for the system.

For the first time, a

crane’s load chart
could be programmed
into the computers
memory to allow
protection
t ti throughout
th h t
the load chart.

Thus came the introduction of the

“MicroGuard® series computers, and
Electronic Rated Capacity Indicating
Systems were born!!

The MicroGuard® went

through a few design
g
changes before reaching
g the
market in the mid 1980s.

The MicroGuard® -3, and the MicroGuard® -3A systems

began to be installed by American OEM Crane
manufacturers, but there was a long and often difficult
calibration process involved.

In the late 1980s, Morgan

Crucible purchased EKCO,
and it became MEI
(Morgan Electronic
Instrumentation).

They also purchased the

Greer company.

Eventually, all of the crane systems design and

development would be shifted from England to the Greer
Company in the United States.

All current and new product design and production

was done at the Greer Companies only facility in
Santa Ana, California.

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 9/10/2009

While promoting and selling the Micro-

Processor EKCO/ MicroGuard®
computer system, the Greer Company
continued to develop other aftermarket
crane systems.

Once again, these were mainly crane

monitoring devices that ranged from simple
Anti-Two Block, to systems that measured
Load, Boom Length, and Radius. Many of
th
these systems
t are iin production
d ti ttoday.
d

In the 1990’s, Greer developed the 
MicroGuard® 400 computer.  The 
system was more streamlined, and 
compact than the older MicroGuard®
‐3 and MicroGuard® ‐3A systems .

This computer system was embraced by OEM’s as well as 
the aftermarket.  The 400 Computer is still used today in 
the aftermarket.

In 1999 Greer introduced the 
MicroGuard® 500 Series 
Computer and a new era 
began for the load moment 
market.  

The result of the new design is a smaller, faster, and more 
compact product that can be  easily installed, with 
greatly reduced setup and calibration times.

The MicroGuard® 500 Series computer has become the 
perfect match for our OEM suppliers needing to avoid 
long calibration and setup times for their new 
equipment.

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After Development of the

MicroGuard® 500 Series
Computer, our OEM line
of displays was re-
engineered.

The result was the

displays that have
become a legend
g in
the field….

The RCI 510, 434 &

586 Displays…
used by many of the
OEM’s

TWG Consists of the following companies: