Case Study:
R. Gingerich Crane

 

gingerichLogo.svg

R. Gingerich Crane, INC. is a premier provider of heavy hoisting solutions, operated crane services, and unmanned crane rentals serving commercial and industrial contractors across Central Illinois. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Morton, Illinois—with additional strategic locations in Bloomington and Springfield—the company maintains one of the largest and most diverse regional fleets of hydraulic and crawler cranes. Known for pairing big-business heavy lifting power with a dedicated, small-business approach to customer service, Gingerich Crane prioritizes strict safety standards, pre-lift engineering models, and expert-level field support to execute complex construction projects smoothly, safely, and on schedule.

Two-App Challenge

Gingerich Crane approached OneHat to replace a heavily paper-based operational workflow. Prior to partnering with OneHat, the company relied on manual paperwork to track daily equipment safety checklists, field work orders, and parts inventory. This mechanical paper trail made it difficult to flag equipment issues immediately or maintain an optimized scheduling process.

To solve this, they needed a dual-ecosystem solution: a mobile, offline-capable Inspections application for field operators to run critical safety checks, and a centralized administrative Maintenance web platform to orchestrate fleet health and manage a sophisticated Preventive Maintenance (PM) system.

 

Solution, Part One: The Mobile Inspections App

OneHat engineered a native-feeling mobile experience for iOS and Android using React Native. Designed specifically for rugged field environments, the application features:

  • Flexible Checklists: Supports both simple and highly complex workflows. Checklist responses are categorized under clear pass/fail logic, enabling operators to instantly flag, escalate, and resolve mechanical failures.
  • Offline-First Architecture: Because cranes often operate in remote areas with poor cellular service, the app allows operators to complete full inspections completely offline. Data automatically syncs to the cloud the moment a network connection is re-established.
  • Historical Audits: Field users can rapidly retrieve, view, or re-run any past equipment inspection record directly from the device.
  • Client-Ready Reporting: Upon checklist completion, the app can instantly generate and email a polished record directly to the end customer for on-site compliance transparency.

 

Solution, Part Two: The Web Maintenance App

To complement the mobile field app, OneHat developed a powerful, centralized web management portal built on the same unified React Native for Web stack. This application gives corporate administrators and shop mechanics absolute control over the fleet:

  • Advanced PM System: Automated scheduling and tracking for routine equipment servicing.
  • Equipment Profiles: A digital source of truth for every crane, detailing service history, meter history, and component specifications.
  • Work Orders & Parts Inventory: Digital dispatching for repairs paired with live tracking of warehouse components and stock levels.
  • Central Analytics & Notifications: Real-time monitoring of active field inspections, compliance dashboards, and automated breakdown alerts.
  • Telemetry: This app integrates with the Ayantra telemetry provider for daily meter updates.
Work Orders screen
Upcoming PMs screen

Measurable Business Impact

Today, Gingerich Crane’s field operators, mechanics, and corporate administrators rely on this connected ecosystem daily:

  • Instant Safety Escalation: Transitioning from paper logs to real-time mobile pass/fail flagging allows the maintenance department to catch and address mechanical failures immediately before cranes deploy.
  • Eliminated Paper Overhead: Moving inspections and inventory tracking online has saved administrative staff countless hours of manual data entry and filed-paper management each week.
  • Minimized Fleet Downtime: Absolute clarity over the automated PM calendar ensures that heavy equipment receives proactive servicing, reducing unexpected field breakdowns and keeping customer projects on schedule.

Conclusion

The mobile Inspections app and the web Maintenance platform have become a critical, inseparable backbone of Gingerich Crane's daily operations. By joining the connection between field safety and shop maintenance, OneHat delivered a unified solution that keeps heavy machinery running safely, efficiently, and at peak performance.

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