Cranes are heavy-duty machines equipped with suspended cables or ropes that are applied for lowering and lifting heavy objects. There is a global demand for moving heavy materials in the industrial world. Due to crane manufacturing, different industries are linked with it. The biggest example is the motor industry. Every tower crane needs an AC motor from a quality AC motor supplier to make it worthy of use in crucial jobs.
Different cranes types that are available prove that it is a quintessential tool used for a range of industrial activities such as:
- Maintenance,
- Building construction,
- Machine fabrication
- Oil mining, and
- Movie production
Types of Cranes
Mobile or portable cranes are important in the construction industry. They are fabricated with multiple configurations. Following are some examples of cranes.
Truck-Mounted Cranes –
The name is self-explanatory. The boom of this crane is mounted on the truck trailer to move it from one place to the other. Truck-mounted cranes need zero special transportation equipment as they can easily be moved via any major roadway.
When this type of configuration is used, it is necessary to grasp that the object being lifted should not swing from side to side. Hydraulic outriggers are engaged before starting any lifting task for:
- Stabilization of the device, and
- Avoidance from any tip-over hazard
When this crane is maneuvered, the operator has to go out of the cab and onto the vehicle’s rear to view the load. Therefore, the latest designs get a radio-linked control system to hold the knuckle boom or telescopic arm.
Crawler –
In this crane, the boom is mounted on an undercarriage or a chassis with a set of tracks or wheels for mobility and stability purposes. It is quite stable and can move easily with heavy loads in different work areas.
However, when the crawler is transported via road, the machine should be dismantled because of its heavyweight. Also, this crane is quite expensive and as a result, unaffordable for many.
All-Terrain –
This crane is a perfect match for both industrial and off-road construction tasks. You can travel with it over public roads without limitations and you can configure it to handle loads up to 1,200 tons.
All-terrain crane is reliable in every location and is well-equipped with safety equipment such as:
- Overloading warning signal,
- Automatic load shut-off, and
- A switch shut-off (hoist limit)
World’s Largest Crane
The world’s largest crane is the LTL-2600 Transi-Lift. It is applied to construct the Intel Corp D1X factory. Workers utilize almost four weeks to reassemble the boom parts along with a reach capacity of 460 feet.
With the attachment of lattice jib, this crane can reach 700 feet at max and has been observed to lift 2,600 tons without facing any technical issues.
World’s Strongest Crane
The world’s most powerful truck-mounted telescopic hoisting crane is the Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1.
It has 8 feet radius along with a telescopic eight-section boom, which has a reaching capacity of 558 feet (maximum). Having a jib attachment, the boom can go up to an additional 79 feet. This monstrous crane is used for the construction of wind turbines along with a maximum lifting ability of 1,330 tons.
Uses of Cranes
With the breakthrough in the technology of hoisting trucks, the knuckle boom or hydraulic-powered telescopic cranes are developed to cater to various applications. Contractors are using it extensively in the construction of bridges and buildings. These are also deployed in the mining industry by manufacturing concerns.
To your interest, these cranes are also used for garden set-up tasks and shooting films; especially for cherub decor positioning.
Ending Note
With so many cranes offered by every prominent tower crane supplier, this blog post focuses only on those that are seen in industrial construction projects. Multiple types of cranes come in handy in various industries while each design offers varying reaching and lifting capacities. It all depends upon the specifications you need.
Their versatility, usability, and functionality enable the user to perform many lifting tasks that are unimaginable!