Auto Crane Launches Ramsey Connect™ — the First IoT Platform “Built Standard” into a Service Crane
Auto Crane, a Ramsey Industries Brand, introduces cloud-connected crane monitoring with first year of service included, marking the company's entry into smart fleet technology
TULSA, Oklahoma — July 9th, 2026
Auto Crane, a Tulsa-based manufacturer of service cranes and a Ramsey Industries brand, announced the official launch of Ramsey Connect™, a cloud-connected IoT platform built directly into the Auto Crane NexStar4 service crane. The platform delivers real-time data from the crane, the vehicle chassis, and connected accessories to a secure online dashboard accessible from any smartphone, tablet, or computer, at no additional hardware cost, with the first year of service included.
The launch follows a preview of Ramsey Connect at NTEA Work Truck Week and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, where the platform was introduced to industry professionals for the first time. The official launch makes Ramsey Connect™ available to Auto Crane customers and marks Ramsey Industries’ first product in a broader connected equipment strategy the company calls its ‘smart iron‘ roadmap.
What Ramsey Connect Does
Service crane fleets have historically operated without real-time visibility into crane performance, vehicle health, or usage data. Maintenance decisions are made on calendar schedules rather than actual condition. Equipment problems are often discovered on a job site, where the cost of unplanned downtime is highest.
Ramsey Connect™ addresses this by capturing live data from the NexStar 4 crane and the truck it is mounted on, then transmitting that information to an online platform where fleet managers and operators can monitor status, review usage history, and receive proactive alerts without placing a call or sending a technician.
Key platform capabilities include:
- Real-time crane and vehicle monitoring from a unified dashboard
- Usage data including engine hours, crane cycles, and idle time
- System health alerts and remote diagnostic information
- Fleet-level and individual asset views
- Access from any web-connected device, no dedicated hardware required
- Connectivity with compatible accessories including iMPACT-equipped trucks
"Ramsey Connect is the beginning of a long-term transformation for Ramsey Industries. We have always built equipment that works hard. Now we are building equipment that thinks. Operators and fleet managers shouldn't have to wonder what their cranes are doing, they should know. This platform gives them that visibility, and it comes standard because we believe connected cranes should be the baseline, not a premium upgrade."
A Different Approach to Connected Equipment
Most connected crane platforms in the market are offered as optional add-on services with subscription fees beginning at purchase. Ramsey Connect is included as a standard feature on every Auto Crane NexStar 4, with the first year of platform access provided at no cost to the customer.
Auto Crane is the first service crane manufacturer to take this approach, reflecting a commitment to making fleet intelligence accessible to customers of all sizes, including owner-operators managing a single truck and fleet managers overseeing multi-unit operations across multiple job sites.
"We knew that if we made customers pay extra to get connected, most of them wouldn't bother. The first year is on us because we want our customers to experience what this platform can do before they ever have to make a subscription decision. Once you see what your cranes are telling you, you won't want to turn it off."
Part of a Broader Smart Equipment Strategy
Ramsey Connect is the first product launched under the Ramsey Connect™ platform, which Ramsey Industries intends to expand across its product portfolio over time. The platform is designed as an umbrella for future IoT-enabled products under the Ramsey Industries family of brands, which includes Auto Crane, Ramsey Winch, and Eskridge.
The NexStar 4 crane is Auto Crane’s most advanced service crane model and already includes NexStar 4 electronic controls with load management, overload protection, and automatic safety stop capabilities. Ramsey Connect adds remote data access and fleet visibility to a crane that was already leading the segment in on-board intelligence.
LIVE WEBINAR — See Ramsey Connect in Action | July 28, 2026 12pm ET
Auto Crane’s Ryan Holland will demo the Ramsey Connect platform live, including a walkthrough of the dashboard, key features, and a live Q&A session. Open to fleet managers, upfitters, dealers, and equipment managers. Free to attend.
Availability
Ramsey Connect is available now on the Auto Crane NexStar 4 service crane. A retrofit kit is also available for current owners of Auto Crane NexStar 4 cranes. For information on compatible configurations, retrofit kits, platform access, and subscription terms following the first year, visit Ramsey Connect – Auto Crane or contact an authorized Auto Crane dealer Find A Dealer – Auto Crane.