ACI is located in Garner, Iowa. A small farming community with approximately 3000 people. Nestled in the heart of Iowa's finest farmland, halfway between Des Moines, IA and Minneapolis, MN. Garner has become known as the "Tire Service Truck Capital of the WORLD" because of the vast amount of tire service trucks and tire handling equipment that is produced in this small Iowa town.

John Collins has a 48-year history in the tire industry. He graduated from Yates Center in 1960.  He began his long and illustrious career in the OFF-the-Road (OTR) tire industry in 1962 in Eufaula, Oklahoma, where he was a large-tire service technician for the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company.  John’s career began by replacing a tire technician, who was accidentally killed on the job.  This accident gave John the original motivation to develop better equipment and improve working conditions.  He spent the next seven years traveling the country with Firestone, opening new projects, training employees, and developing new tools to make the job safer.

In 1969, John joined Iowa Mold Tooling, (IMT) Garner, Iowa, where he continued to be a trailblazer.  He established the IMT crane division as well as the OTR tire-service product line.  John created and patented the IMT Tire Hand.  The Tire Hand has become an industry standard for installing and handling OTR tires, used worldwide by independent tire dealers, rubber companies, and mining companies.

In 1982, John left IMT to establish Collins Equipment Company where he developed the Mini-OTR tire service truck.  Collins Equipment was later sold and became the tire equipment division of Stellar Industries.  After a brief stint back with IMT, John launched American Crane Inc. (ACI) in 1996.  ACI has developed a complete process for re-manufacturing used OTR equipment to the point of new warranty.  ACI also has developed a complete line of new OTR tire handling equipment and produces custom manufacturer OTR service trucks for a worldwide market.

John has spent his entire career developing tools and equipment for handling OTR tires in a more efficient and safer manor.  In addition to the Tire Hand, John holds many other patents on specialty tools and equipment.  Even today he is working on his latest patented tool, which is a 10,000 PSI hydraulic system to operate jacks and bead breakers with a remote controlled system, which eliminates the need for air-operated tools.  In addition to creating tools, John has also developed a complete equipment preventive maintenance program, which he provides to all ACI customers, and a very detailed cost analysis program, which determines the affordability of owning an OTR service truck. 

He has also given much of his time and energy to the tire industry, including serving as Chairman of the Supplier Group for the old NTDRA – a forerunner of TIA – from 1981 – 1982.  In 1999 he completed the PapaJohn Entrepreneurial Program through North Iowa Area Community College and received a grant for his business plan. John was inducted into the Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame in November 2009.

After John's years of being in the service truck industry, he has established American Crane as a global leader in the service truck equipment industry.  With quality and innovation, American Crane Inc. will continue to provde meaningful service to its customers.

John practices his motto in all his life’s activities - " Make it happen."