DEPENDING on the requirements of a construction site or industrial project, there are many different cranes to get a lifting job done. Choosing the right crane for the task at hand and achieving a precise and safe lift requires understanding the differences between the various types of cranes and the jobs they are best suited for. This article helps to explain 5 different types of cranes for overcoming various types of heavy lifting and how they are used on modern-day construction sites.
- Mobile Cranes
Mobile cranes are versatile and popular, used for everything from road construction and building site work to tower cranes erection and steel erection. They come in many different sizes and shapes, each designed for a specific task or industry. Popular mobile crane types include rough terrain cranes, all-terrain cranes, truck-mounted cranes, crawler cranes, and floating cranes. Mobile cranes are a particularly popular option for sites that are of a large size and require both the movement of heavy goods as well as the lifting.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
- Tower Cranes
Tower cranes are among the most common cranes used in construction sites. They are tall and can lift heavy loads to great heights, making them essential for high-rise building projects. Tower cranes consist of a base, tower mast, jib (horizontal beam), and operator’s cab at the top. These cranes are capable of reaching exceptional heights, making them ideal for city-centre and suburban construction sites and developments where ground space is limited but development is reaching new heights. What’s more the jib of a tower crane is typically able to rotate a total 360 degrees, making it capable of completing very precise lifting.
- Overhead Cranes
Overhead cranes are often seen in factories and industrial settings, used for moving heavy materials or products along a fixed path. These cranes can be manually operated by an operator using a pendant control, or automated through the use of computer-controlled systems. They come in different configurations such as single girder, double girder, gantry cranes, and jib cranes, each with its own set of advantages for particular applications. Overhead cranes offer a safe and efficient solution for lifting heavy loads in a relatively small workspace.
- Rough Terrain Cranes
As the name suggests, rough terrain cranes are designed to operate on rugged and uneven surfaces, making them suitable for use on construction sites or in off-road industrial settings. These cranes have large tires and are equipped with outriggers for stability, enabling them to navigate rough terrain while lifting heavy loads. Rough terrain cranes are particularly useful in areas with limited access or where the ground is unstable.
- Crawler Cranes
Crawler cranes are a type of mobile crane that has a track-mounted undercarriage, giving them the ability to move and operate on rough or soft terrain. They are typically used for heavy-duty lifting tasks such as bridge construction and demolition projects. Crawler cranes can carry a much larger load compared to other types of mobile cranes due to their stability and weight distribution.
