How one industry expert is revolutionizing roofing equipment

By Jesse Sanchez.

 A look at how modern lifts are reshaping jobsite safety, speed and profitability.

When Tony Hutton says equipment is fun, he means it. But behind the enthusiasm lies decades of hands-on experience and a focused message: the right lifting equipment can significantly improve a roofing company’s efficiency, safety and profitability.

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Tony, founder of Lifting Equipment Solutions (LES), to talk about lifts and cranes — and why they’re more than just hardware. They’re game-changers.

“I started Lifting Equipment Solutions in 2010,” Tony says. “The PAUS machines have been through some real evolutions since then. The machine now is so much nicer, easier to use, easy to tow, wonderful, fast-moving and powerful machines.”

Tony’s background is varied — from roofing contractor to East Coast sales manager for Garlock — and it’s given him an insider's understanding of the challenges contractors face on the job. That’s exactly what makes his solutions feel grounded and relevant. He understands that downtime costs money. And so do broken driveways.

“I have several contractors use [our machines] on the oceanfront, in the sand,” Tony says. “You couldn't take anything else. Many, many customers have paid for their machine on that job.” One contractor using a lift on the Texas State Capitol, he says, “already paid for the machine on that one job.”

Tony notes how smaller, self-driving units are designed to reach places traditional cranes can’t, with the ability to set up quickly and minimize property damage — a major concern for roofers working on high-end or historic buildings.

For contractors, owning a lift can be a strategic move. “Most everyone who buys our machines is already paying more in rental than the machine costs,” Tony states. “If you own your own equipment, then it's ready whenever you are.”

But what sets Tony apart is his firm stance on safety and training. “You have to have that training to buy it,” he says. “It's probably the worst thing any contractor can do for opening liability. To let anyone operate any lifting and loading device without proper training.”

LES provides not only certified training, but ongoing operator support. Tony adds, “If they forget a certain step or they have a question, they can call me on my cell phone right away.”

Whether it’s navigating tight coastal properties or protecting historic landmarks, Tony’s equipment isn’t just about moving material — it’s about moving the needle for roofing companies.

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how contractors are transforming their operations with this kind of equipment!