Crane Worldwide Opens Nordic Offices as Sims Crane Develops Commercial Strategy

Crane Worldwide Opens Nordic Offices as Sims Crane Develops Commercial Strategy

Crane Worldwide Logistics is establishing new operations in Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stavanger, giving the Houston-headquartered freight and supply chain company a direct presence in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, whilst in the United States, Sims Crane & Equipment is strengthening its commercial management with the appointment of Srdjan Vukajlovic as chief commercial officer.

The developments sit at different points in the construction and industrial supply chain. Crane Worldwide is putting people on the ground in three important Nordic commercial centres, while Sims is concentrating responsibility for identifying and developing opportunities across its crane, rigging and heavy-haul markets.

Briefing

• Crane Worldwide Logistics has opened offices in Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stavanger.
• The expansion establishes local operations in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
• Crane Worldwide says its global network encompasses more than 150 locations across 36 countries.
• Sims Crane & Equipment has appointed Srdjan Vukajlovic as chief commercial officer, effective 5 October.
• Vukajlovic brings more than 17 years of experience spanning commercial strategy, operations, executive leadership and financial management.

Building a Nordic Logistics Network

Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stavanger give Crane Worldwide three quite different positions within Scandinavian freight and industrial markets. The locations provide access to Denmark’s international transport connections, Sweden’s largest port complex and the industrial and energy economy centred on Norway’s south-west coast.

Gothenburg is the most obvious freight hub of the three. The Port of Gothenburg handled 38.7 million tonnes of goods during 2025 and is Scandinavia’s largest port. Its Railport Scandinavia network supports around 70 train movements a day, connecting the port with 26 inland terminals across Sweden, while the E6 provides the principal road corridor towards Oslo and Copenhagen.

The port is also Scandinavia’s largest container facility, handling 934,000 containers during 2025. Around 57% of Sweden’s container trade passes through Gothenburg, supported by direct shipping services linking Scandinavia with North America, North Africa, the Middle East and major Asian markets. For an international freight forwarder, the city provides access to ocean, rail and road movements from a single established logistics centre.

Copenhagen gives Crane Worldwide a presence at the southern gateway to Scandinavia, closely connected with Sweden through the Øresund corridor and with continental Europe through Denmark’s road, rail, maritime and air networks. Stavanger brings a different customer base, with the region’s long-established concentration of energy, offshore engineering and industrial activity creating demand for international freight and more specialised project movements.

Crane Worldwide said its Nordic operations would support customers across advanced manufacturing, life sciences, technology, renewable energy and industrial production, alongside conventional air and ocean forwarding, customs brokerage, contract logistics and project logistics.

Jared Crane, chief executive officer of Crane Worldwide Logistics, said: “Denmark, Sweden and Norway are home to some of the world’s most innovative and globally connected industries. By establishing local operations in Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stavanger, we are strengthening our ability to provide the expertise, responsiveness and tailored logistics solutions our customers need to navigate today’s complex global supply chains.”

The three offices join a network that Crane Worldwide says now encompasses more than 150 locations across 36 countries. From its headquarters in Houston, the company provides air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, warehousing, contract and project logistics, and transportation management.

Commercial Leadership at Sims Crane

Sims Crane & Equipment is taking a different route, appointing Srdjan Vukajlovic as chief commercial officer with responsibility for leading the company’s sales division. He is due to take up the role on 5 October, focusing on market opportunities, commercial strategy and customer development.

Vukajlovic brings more than 17 years of experience across commercial strategy, operations, financial management and executive leadership. His background also includes developing business processes and managing organisational change, experience that Sims intends to apply to the coordination and development of its sales organisation.

Deborah Weber, chief executive officer and president of Sims Crane & Equipment, said: “Srdjan brings the commercial insight and leadership experience to take our sales organization forward with a clear focus on where the greatest opportunities exist. He understands how to connect market strategy with customer needs and position a sales team to pursue meaningful, sustainable growth. We are excited to welcome him to Sims.”

Founded in 1959, Sims provides crane rental, rigging, lifting and heavy-haul capabilities for construction and industrial projects. It has an established presence in Florida and describes its crane rental fleet as the largest in the state.

Vukajlovic therefore takes responsibility for the commercial development of an existing equipment and service operation rather than building a sales organisation around a new market entry. The task is to connect the company’s fleet, operational capabilities and customer relationships with opportunities across the markets Sims already serves and those it wants to develop.

Different Routes to Growth

Crane Worldwide and Sims Crane operate in different businesses and geographic markets, but their respective investments represent two practical approaches to expansion. One is geographical, putting local operations into markets where the company wants to increase its presence. The other is organisational, strengthening the commercial management of an established equipment and service business.

For Crane Worldwide, the Nordic offices extend its international network into three commercially distinct Scandinavian locations. Gothenburg offers a major freight gateway, Copenhagen connects Scandinavia with continental European markets, and Stavanger places the company close to an industrial economy shaped heavily by energy and engineering.

Sims already has the cranes, lifting expertise and operating footprint. Its investment is in the commercial structure intended to make more of that existing capacity, placing responsibility for market development and sales strategy under a new chief commercial officer. Different businesses require different routes into new work, and in these two cases the investment is going into the part of the organisation closest to the opportunity.

Key Industry Questions

1. Where has Crane Worldwide Logistics opened new Nordic offices? The company has established operations in Copenhagen, Denmark; Gothenburg, Sweden; and Stavanger, Norway.
2. Why is Gothenburg important for international logistics? Gothenburg is Scandinavia’s largest port and container facility, with extensive ocean, rail and road connections serving Sweden and neighbouring Nordic markets.
3. What does Copenhagen add to Crane Worldwide’s network? Copenhagen provides a position at the southern gateway to Scandinavia, with strong transport connections into Sweden and continental Europe.
4. Why is Stavanger relevant to project logistics? The Stavanger region has a substantial concentration of energy, offshore engineering and industrial activity, sectors that can generate specialised freight and project logistics requirements.
5. How large is Crane Worldwide Logistics’ international network? The company says it operates more than 150 locations across 36 countries.
6. Who is the new chief commercial officer at Sims Crane & Equipment? Srdjan Vukajlovic has been appointed chief commercial officer and is due to take up the position on 5 October.
7. What will Vukajlovic be responsible for? He will lead the Sims sales division, focusing on market opportunities, commercial strategy and customer development.
8. What markets does Sims Crane & Equipment serve? Sims provides crane rental, rigging, lifting and heavy-haul capabilities for construction and industrial applications, with an established presence in Florida.

Strategic Takeaways

1. Crane Worldwide is building a direct presence across three distinct Nordic freight and industrial markets rather than serving Scandinavia solely through its wider European network.
2. Gothenburg gives the company a position within Scandinavia’s largest port and an extensive multimodal freight system.
3. Copenhagen and Stavanger broaden the Nordic operation beyond conventional port logistics into continental connections and energy-related industrial markets.
4. Sims is strengthening the commercial management of an established crane and lifting operation rather than announcing a new geographical expansion.
5. The two developments put investment into different parts of the route to market: local operating presence for Crane Worldwide and commercial leadership for Sims.