Company

History

In 1951, Garland Knight and David Himick opened Himight Sling Fabricators on Lafayette Street in Detroit, Michigan, soon renamed Commercial Wire Rope & Sling Company in 1953. Over the next 40 years, the company expanded multiple times, enhancing product offerings to include hardware, chain and nylon products. The company also expanded its geographic reach with the opening of several satellite offices. In the 1980’s, Garland Knight bought out his partner and began moving into the Ohio markets with branches in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Garland Knight continued as chairman of the company while his son, Gar Knight, took over as President in 2002. The Detroit administrative and manufacturing operations were moved into a state-of-the-art facility in Taylor, Michigan in 2008. In 2014, Gar Knight purchased Hessville Cable & Sling Company in Gary, Indiana. In 2024, Gar Knight purchased Blacco Rigging & Supply located in Columbus, OH. With this acquisition in the Columbus area, Commercial Group Lifting Products continues its strategy to expand its reach across the Midwest. Today, the company is one of the largest manufacturers of lifting and rigging devices in the country, with plants located throughout the Midwest and a national sales presence. The goal remains the same: to provide the highest quality service to the customers while providing creative and innovative solutions to rigging and hoisting problems.